Leona Trimble "Volunteering in Sports Clubs"

Leona Trimble - Senior Lecturer

From 1999 until 2001, Leona worked as assistant manager in Cannons Health Club in Liverpool launching a new facility and brand to the city. Involved in recruitment, training and development of staff, Leona expanded a range of skills additional to the operational management of the facility and also shouldered the responsibility of marketing and events.

Leona later joined the core team at Sport Cheshire as a sports development officer, with responsibility for co-ordinating and managing the Cheshire Youth Games. Also the lead officer for clubmark accreditation in the partnership, Leona worked closely with local clubs to achieve high quality standards.

Currently teaching sports development in higher education, Leona holds the position of Course Leader and is module leader for Club and Volunteer Development teaching at MMU, Edge Hill University and the University of Central Lancashire. This module has been the very vehicle through which 1st year coaching and sports development students have volunteered in local sports clubs.

Session Title: Volunteering in Sports Clubs

The aim of the session is to explore the contribution that young people can make to the building of capacity of local sports clubs through volunteering. The session will also look at the potential for partnership working between local clubs, local authority sports development units and universities.

Content will include:

�         What students have to offer the local community
�         What are the benefits to students and the local clubs from this partnership
�         How the curriculum can be a vehicle to develop an understanding of the value of volunteering
�         The practicalities for the students, clubs and the university in making it work

Drawing upon previous experiences, the session will outline good practice of this partnership working and also explore what lessons can be learnt.