Have you considered volunteering?

Published Wednesday, 31st January 2018

INTERESTED in a change of career direction or just want to try something new? Hartlepool Borough Council's Sport and Physical Activity Team may be able to help.

The team, based at Brierton Sports Centre, offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities, including helping with the delivery of physical activity programmes and acting as marshals at events such as the annual Big Lime Triathlon.

Katie Gofton, 22, a former pupil of St Hild’s Church of England School in Hartlepool, got in touch when she returned home to the town after graduating from theatre school in Essex and having worked for a time in London as a professional dancer.

And after helping out with gym-based sessions and other activities she is now working for the Sport and Physical Activity Team as a casual coach.

picture of Katie Gofton

Katie Gofton

She said: “After graduating from theatre school and living in London for a while, I moved back to Hartlepool to have a bit of career change and to make sure I had something to fall back on when I finished dancing.

“I got in touch with Jaz Bradley at the Sport and Physical Activity Team and started volunteering in a variety of classes to get some experience before actually starting to do my qualifications.

“I cannot recommend them enough. Everyone within the team is so supportive and helpful, so if you ever feel that you are stuck in a rut or you’re not sure you know what you want I would definitely recommend

The only age restriction on volunteers is that they must be aged 16+; however additional leadership opportunities are available for those younger.

Jaz, Volunteer Activator with the team, said: “There are some events and sessions that we wouldn’t be able to stage if it wasn’t for the support of our excellent volunteers.

“We are completely flexible in terms of the time volunteers commit to us. We currently have around 18 active volunteers doing 1 hour a week but we also have a couple of college students doing 3-4 hours a week.

“People might say to us that they can only commit to once a fortnight and we would be more than happy for them to get involved on that basis.”

“I would invite anyone interested in finding out more about volunteering opportunities within the team to get in touch. I’d be delighted to speak to them.”

Jaz can be contacted on (01429) 284414 or jaz.bradley@hartlepool.gov.uk