Volunteers
Junior Ilkley Harriers, established 2003
Volunteer Awards
We coach over 200 juniors each week so it is essential that we have a large pool of regular volunteers prepared to give up their time to coach or assist at sessions. Without the support of these volunteers the junior section would cease to exist. Children of coaches and parent helpers receive free athletics sessions and junior leaders receive free sessions where they train.
Junior Leader Volunteers
Juniors can become session helpers in Year 9 and progress onto our junior Leadership programme in Year 10. Some years we accept Year 8 helpers.
Year 9 session Helpers: must commit to a whole term of volunteering at a time. This can be as a part of their voluntary element of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme or just because they would like to help. Those who help in Year 9 will have priority for places on the Year 10 Leadership programme.
Year 10 Leadership Awards: At the end of 2010 we decided to give all our junior helpers the opportunity to gain 'real' qualifications that would not only be useful on a CV but also provide the general leadership skills for everyday life. We value the input of our older juniors who have gone through the JIH system themselves and are familiar with the activities that the club does and the format of the coaching sessions run.
The general format of the award:
Volunteering starts in the September of Year 10 and includes 12 months of regular weekly volunteering. Over that period we expect the very minimum of 20 sessions attended or the 12 month period will be extended and every junior leader must also help at a couple of events/races that we organise (this will be waivered if circumstances dictate)
In return we pay for every junior leader to attend a First Aid course and an England Athletics 'Leading Athletics' course. Once qualified we hope that some will continue to volunteer and we will support further development and act as referees for job or university applications.