The GOGA programme, run by Link4Life in Rochdale aims to increase people’s participation in fun and inclusive opportunities, so that disabled and non-disabled people along with their families and friends, can enjoy recreational physical activity together. The programme includes swimming, walking, cycling, jogging and other fun-based recreational activities.
This case study outlines the impact that two of the volunteers Neli and Myron have had on the programme.
Saying a bit about the roles of your volunteers Neil and Myron (what they do), and then outlining what impact do Neil and Myron have on the Get Out Get Active programme in Rochdale?
Myron volunteers on the cycling session on a Wednesday 10 – 2pm during which he will
- Set up the bikes
- Set up the café area
- Receive customers
- Assist people with a broad range of impairments including learning, psychical, sensory and autism onto bikes
- Oversee safety
- Review the sessions for improvements
- Attend training
Neil volunteers on cycling on a Wednesday and Friday 10 – 2 carrying out the same roles as Myron. Neil also volunteers on a Thursday morning at a multisport sessions
The Thursday morning session includes
- Setting up sports
- Receiving people
- Coaching sports to people with a broad range of impairments including learning, psychical, sensory and autism
- Clearing up after the session.
What impact do they have on participants?
Myron and Neil bring very different aspects to the work. Attributable to his autism Myron is very particular about detail so ensures that all instructions are followed through for example bikes are up and working, questions are answered thoroughly, timings of sessions are correct, each person gets treated the same, working areas are tidy and safe. Myron also has specific skills for engaging with other people who are autistic which immediately brings about the benefits of the participant feeling more comfortable and safe.
Neil has had his own battles with mental health which has given him a very different outlook on life appreciating to a greater level what many of us take for granted for example friendship, social opportunities, activity opportunities. This reflects very strongly in the way that he works with the participants. He is very non-judgemental and makes every participant regardless of level of ability feel very valued. If Neil is not present at a session many people will ask where he is. He shares a great deal of laughter and enjoyment which makes people feel very happy and positive. He works tirelessly to encourage people to participate and learn.
In addition both Neil and Myron challenge current assumptions around what a coach or instructor looks and behaves like which encourages a greater level of diversity in participants encouraged to attend sessions. An example is a person might feel intimidated about attending a session if a coach is very fit and strong and has an arrogant approach about them where as they may feel more comfortable if the coach is very approachable and more similar to the participant’s position.
Any learning to share - anything you want to say about what you have learnt from the impact of your volunteers, on the shaping of the programme to impact on participants etc.
Providing the room and the time to enable the volunteers to develop and take control of their own decision making, regain confidence and skills has broadened our activity offer. It has enabled a new set of skills to be introduced. It has enabled people who have a closer affinity with the participants for example mental health conditions or autism to have greater input into development of the programmes and delivery.
Anything you have learnt from your volunteers on how to encourage more disabled people to get involved with volunteering. And anything you have learnt from volunteers on helping you to reach least active or supporting active together.
The biggest thing learnt is seeing how much they have valued the opportunity and the huge impact it has had on their own lives. The biggest change witnessed is seeing people who have gone from having a pretty much powerless position in their lives, not going out much, not having a social life, feeling very worthless to now being people who are making friends, making choices, being much happier in themselves, being less frustrated, feeling much stronger and valued.
We have learnt that providing a broad range of support with all services involved in supporting that person and saying the same thing has worked really well. We have a broad range of support from the Skills for Sport programme and the Line Manager of our department. It’s vitally important that you have a supportive and appropriate recruitment system.
Working with volunteers with a disability has enabled us to engage with a different audience. They have been able to communicate much more effectively with the people that GOGA targets,
It has also made us look more closely at our recruitment procedures. We are now actively working with the council’s economic affairs department on developing systems that support people who have historically been left off the radar. We are attending a workshop that is specifically on systems to better support learning disabled people and people with mental health difficulties into work.
In summary
It has turned things on its head. It has enabled us to meet with people who have a huge range of untapped skills that current recruitment and coaching systems don’t begin to go near. It requires time, lots of support and patience to support people into the work environment but it has huge benefits. Myron due to his voluntary work now gets paid work. Neil will be recieiving paid work soon.