Do you want to start volunteering in sport while studying at RGU? RGU Student Emma walks you through all the opportunities you have as a student at RGU to keep your love for sport alive.
Did you know you could volunteer within sport alongside your studies? As a physiotherapy student, physical activity and developing a positive relationship with sport has been especially important to me.
I am an athletics coach, first-aider, and have been involved in many sports throughout my life including athletics, cross country, dance, swimming and gymnastics. I have always put a lot of value into volunteering and believe it strengthens your wellbeing, confidence, resilience and employability.
This blog is about representing sporting volunteering opportunities within RGU and through external organisations. Read on to find out why you should get involved and what you can gain from these experiences!
Sports Club Committee
Without volunteers, sports clubs do not run. If you are not sure where to start, I would recommend being a part of a sports club committee. Even if your clubs have already decided on next year’s committee, there are always vacancies somewhere. Why not get in touch with your sports club and find out about coaching or officiating?
My earliest volunteering role as an RGU student was for RGU Athletics & Cross Country. As a Fundraising and Wellbeing Officer, I helped promote initiatives and brainstorm fundraising ideas.
Volunteering on committees helps you gain an understanding of how sports clubs function and can be a form of flexible experience for future applications. This could even inspire you to become a candidate in future RGU Union student elections as President of Sports & Physical Activity!
Sport & Physical Activity Team
The Sports & Physical Activity Team (SPAT) are volunteers that work to help sports clubs’ organisation, support committee members, and plan all-club fundraisers throughout the year. They collaborate with the President and Vice-President of Sport & Physical Activity. SPAT applications should open next semester under the new president. If you are interested be sure to keep an eye on @rgusportsclubs socials.
I have been a part of SPAT for 3 years, helping previous sports presidents Jordan, Joel, and Phoebe. I would recommend this opportunity as a way to develop your creativity and get the opportunity to organise your own events.
As Wellbeing & Inclusion Officer, I started #rgumindfullnessmondays, and as Business & Operations, I worked behind-the-scenes minute taking important events such as Sports Forum. You can also use this opportunity to develop new skills. For example, I learned how to design social media posts and my sports photography has been published in the previous x2 freshers booklets!
Scottish Student Sport Committee
Scottish Student Sport (SSS) is the governing body responsible for student sport. Volunteering for SSS organisations can help you make a significant impact in the sports you are enthusiastic about and promote university sport.
Students often lose touch with sports when they start at university. Keeping up with volunteering is what has helped me keep motivated. SSS aims to inspire students to stay connected with sport competitively and recreationally. Volunteering with them has helped me build connections that can help with identifying future job opportunities.
I have spent the last year as Vice-Chair of development for Scottish Student Athletics and aim to continue following graduation. This new role has expanded my leadership skills and has helped me feel more confident about my involvement in sport after graduation. You do not have to be an RGU committee member to apply and there are always vacancies.
If RGU does not offer your sport why not check the SSS volunteering vacancies? For example, you could be a media volunteer and develop your photography skills in SSS affiliated sporting events!
Other volunteering opportunities
Other sporting volunteering organisations I would recommend (but have not volunteered for myself) are Streetsport, British Universities and Collages Sport (BUCS), Sport Scotland, Sport Aberdeen or RGU SPORT.
But remember, volunteering does not have to take over your free time and does not have to be through RGU. As a commuting student, I have had the opportunity to keep up my coaching and competing for my local athletics club. For students that have placements or other working commitments this can be a flexible alternative to volunteering as a committee member.
I would also recommend considering getting a sports first aid qualification, where you could use this to support RGU sports clubs or even earn money at the weekends by covering local sports clubs. I have found this to work best across my placements.
There are also one-off volunteering positions available through RGU, where you can sign up for newsletter emails based off your preferences. Visit the Union’s website to see all the opportunities.
Reasons to volunteer within sport
- Keep up your passion for sport.
- More opportunities to compete as a student.
- Gain work experience.
- Meet new people and build connections.
- Improve your physical health.
- Develop new skills and confidence.
- Explore career paths in sport and health.
- Help shape student sport.
- Be more than just your degree and graduate with extra experience for job applications.
If volunteering in sport is not for you, I would still encourage you to join a sports club next Freshers’ Fayre! Whether you have been involved in sports from an early age or are looking to improve your health during your studies, RGU sports clubs have several sports clubs you can join as well as a free gym membership. Taking advantage of this will help enhance your student experience.
Check out current volunteering vacancies or get in touch with RGU Union/Sports Clubs.
Related blogs
How RGU is encouraging women into sport and physical activity
Playing football for Aberdeen Women’s as a full-time student
Exercise and mental health: 5 top tips from RGU SPORT
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