The British Swimming Volunteer Training Programme has been launched to develop our workforce of volunteers so they have the skill sets and experience required for volunteer roles at London 2012. It was created with the wish to provide a pool of the best trained volunteer workforce for Aquatics that we as an organisation can support.

The Programme

The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is fast approaching and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) are starting to look at their sports specific volunteer requirements within the  Aquatics programme which covers:

Swimming (both pool swimming, 10km Marathon Swimming)
Diving
Synchronised Swimming
Water Polo

A small number of roles will be paid and require re-location to London but the majority of which are volunteer positions for the duration of the games, 28th July – 12th August 2012 and up to two weeks prior (to coincide with the opening of the Olympic Village). Some roles will also take in the Paralympics Games, 29th August – 9th September 2012 and up to 10 days prior.

The official London 2012 volunteer application process will open in 2010 and this recruitment, selection and appointment process is managed entirely by LOCOG. British Swimming do not have any decision making status within this recruitment process but through a new British Swimming Volunteer Training Programme are offering support, guidance and training to any volunteers that have the required skill set for the positions available in order to support their application.

The likely time commitment for a volunteer who is successful in securing a role at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games could be:

Recruitment and Selection Workshops
Training Courses (minimum of 3 LOCOG training sessions)
Test Event(s)
Olympic Games (period of attendance - 10 sessions between the 23rd July to 12th August 2012)
Paralympic Games (period of attendance - 10 sessions between the 20th August and 9th September).
There will be roles available within the specific aquatics disciplines and also across all disciplines, within aquatics as a whole. Minimum requirements are likely to range from experience of volunteering at 5 / 10 National Events, experience at International events, background in that discipline, and coaching experience to those with professional leisure qualifications such as NPLQ.

Available to download below is a spreadsheet of the likely volunteer roles that may be available for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games The roles are split into the individual aquatic disciplines and although each discipline contains the same job titles, the applicant will require experience relating to that specific discipline.

If there is a role that does not currently exist within our British Swimming volunteer structure, individuals will be identified and training provided.

If you wish to be considered for the British Swimming Volunteer Training Programme you need to complete the application form (available to download below) identifying the role that you would like to apply for.

The closing date for applications is Monday 22nd March 2010.

Send completed application forms to:

British Swimming Volunteer Training Programme
Rachel Washington
Operations Coordinator
The ASA
Harold Fern House
Derby Square
Loughborough
LE11 5AL

Or alternatively email the application to volunteerproject@swimming.org.

British Swimming cannot appoint the volunteers; this programme is to give you the required skills to put you in the best position when applying for the roles.

Application Form

Volunteer Role Descriptions (please note that this is guidance information on potential roles from LOCOG).

Inspire Mark

British Swimming Volunter Training Programme is one of the outstanding projects granted the London 2012 Inspire mark, the badge of the London 2012 Inspire programme which recognises exceptional and innovative projects inspired by the 2012 Games.

The Inspire programme is an opportunity for everyone to be a part of the London 2012 Games; a broad participation programme spanning sport participation, education, sustainability, volunteering and business opportunities & skills. New opportunities are being created to inspire young people and encourage for the whole of the UK to join in.

Find out more about the Inspire programme.

Officials Training Programme

British Swimming has been tasked with identifying potential officials, for recommendation to FINA and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG), within Synchronised Swimming, Water Polo and Diving that would be interested in working at the 2012 Olympic Games as a National Technical Official.

For more information take a look at the Officials Training Programme page.