London's successful bid to host the Olympics in 2012 will provide a massive boost to volunteering throughout the UK, according to Volunteering England.
Over 70,000 volunteers will be required to help run the Games, providing a range of essential services from spectator support and transportation to first aid and translation; indeed, as London's bid made clear, the Olympics could simply not be held without the involvement of volunteers.
Dr Justin Davis Smith, Deputy Chief Executive of Volunteering England, and an author of the draft Volunteering Strategy prepared as part of London's successful bid, said:
"Diversity was one of the major selling points in London's bid, and the 70,000 volunteers, drawn from among the Capital's 200 different nationalities and across the UK, will play a key part in making 2012 the most diverse and inclusive Games ever seen".
Volunteers themselves will also gain enormously from their involvement, in terms of skills learned, qualifications achieved, and the opening up of new employment and educational opportunities.
The 2012 strategy outlines the intention to create an advance cadre of several thousand volunteers some three or four years before the Games to work in community regeneration projects in the Capital.
"Not only will this provide an opportunity for volunteers to develop the skills necessary to work in the Games but it will provide a valuable human resource to some of the poorest communities in Britain and help allay fears that the Olympics will 'drain' volunteers away from existing projects", said Justin.
"Perhaps most importantly the Olympics offers the opportunity to transform the volunteering landscape in Britain. Many people will be inspired to volunteer for the first time and will hopefully be encouraged to continue long after the Games have finished. And just as the Olympics will result in the development of the physical infrastructure in London - the stadiums and the transport systems - so one of its most lasting legacies will be the strengthening of the volunteering infrastructure at local and national level which will create a platform for the development of volunteering for many years to come".
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