CLUB HANDBOOK - Special Olympics Ireland

DEVELOPING MEMBERSHIP
• Growth
• Education
Growth
If a Special Olympics Club has the capacity, the Club Management Team should strive to increase their
membership numbers, from both an athlete and a volunteer perspective. A club must always bear in
mind that there must be an appropriate number of volunteers to support the athletes and that there is
sufficient roles for the volunteers to undertake.
Accepting additional Athletes
Prior to bringing new athletes into the club, you must make sure of the following:
• Adequate volunteer numbers
• Sufficient capacity in the venue
• Adequate finances within the club for supporting additional athletes.
• Ideas for recruitment include:
- Target local schools, community groups
- Create links with local disability services and groups
- Local advertising – radio, parish newsletters etc.
INCREASING VOLUNTEER NUMBERS
Whether you wish to cater for new athletes or simply to cope with your existing activities, most clubs
will be in a situation where they will need to recruit more volunteers if they are to develop and grow.
Prior to starting any volunteer recruitment campaign, a club should take the following into consideration:
• Why do you need volunteers?
• What skills are required?
• How many are needed?
• Are there clear roles for new volunteers?
• When do you need them? Do remember that there is a time requirement in order to complete the
volunteer application process which will include a background check.
Sources for Recruiting Volunteers
• Contact your regional office
• The Volunteer Support Centre will be able to undertake a recruitment drive of currently registered
volunteers in your area
• Your Regional Special Olympics Volunteer Support Centre will facilitate the placement of an advertisement
in the CONNECT newsletter and on the Special Olympics website
• Contact your local Volunteer Centre
• Create a link with schools in your local community. It is advisable to start this recruitment process
well in advance of the start of the season, in April/May, so that the students will be fully registered
as volunteers (anybody aged 16 years and over will require a background check and this will take
additional time to complete)
• Local advertising – radio, parish newsletters etc.
• Target the families of new and existing athletes who are not already actively involved
Special Olympics Ireland Club Handbook | Page 37