The 2012 Games: skills and volunteering dividends
New skills for more people will be both a requirement and a bonus of the 2012 Games. We need people for all kinds of roles, so why not register your details to find out more?
It’s estimated that the direct workforce for the Games will number around 100,000 people. Beyond this, there will be demand for thousands more skilled individuals created via the presence of the Games – in sports and leisure, tourism, event management and delivery, for instance. The effects of staging the Games in the UK will extend far into regions like ours, as its stimulus ripples out geographically and economically.
So a key challenge for the Northwest lies in supporting skills development for individuals, businesses and communities, to secure maximum benefits from the Games and its legacies.
A unique and exciting catalyst
The inspirational nature of the 2012 Games in the UK can be a powerful motivator for people to take up new learning opportunities or employment. For the individual and the region as a whole, this is a win-win situation.
The need for large numbers of volunteers is also likely to have profound positive effects. From the experience of events such as the Commonwealth Games and Liverpool 08, evidence of the positive outcomes of volunteering is mounting:
- Developing skills for work and new employment
- Inspiring personal confidence
- The personal satisfaction of performing a worthwhile and valued role
- Increasing community engagement for individuals
- Removing barriers for the socially excluded
- Fostering sense of community and altruism
As a specific example, the Commonwealth Games targeted individuals from disadvantaged communities as volunteers. A flexible package of support was developed for these people, and 2,134 achieved the qualification. 694 of these had a role at the Games; those not directly involved went on to other volunteering and employment.
Our region already has a strong volunteer sector, including 33 quality accredited Volunteer Development Agencies (VDAs). The advent of the Games will allow us to build on these foundations, and extend the benefits of volunteering to many more people.
Volunteer to be part of history
There’s no better way to feel really involved with the 2012 Games than volunteering to join the team that will actually help to make the events happen.
Register now
For more information on volunteering, visit the London 2012 site.