Volunteer Spotlight... Meet Dave!

I started volunteering for Streetsport in November 2018 and it is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done! The young people are amazing and there is always a lot of fun at the sessions.  

When Streetsport stopped in March 2019 due to the lockdown it was very disappointing, not only for me but for all the young people who would not have the structured and fun sessions that Streetsport excel in. One of the reasons I love sport and volunteer for Streetsport is the immense mental health benefit of sport and physical activities. Being able to run the Streetsport sessions not only keeps young people stay active in fun activities, but also helps their mental health. 

I was delighted to hear the Streetsport sessions would start again in August and couldn’t wait to get back. The Streetsport team are fantastic for keeping the volunteers well trained and there were a few Zoom sessions prior to starting again to keep us informed on how the sessions were to be run as safely as possible, given the difficulties around COVID-19.  

It was wonderful to get back to the first session and the Streetsport coaches all made sure we kept to the COVID-19 guidance from Sport Scotland, the Scottish Government and other relevant organisations. PPE and hand sanitisers were available to all the coaches and volunteers if required. Equipment was cleaned down at the end of each session to make sure it was safe for the next session. It all felt perfectly safe. 

It was great to see all the young people back again and there were a lot of familiar faces. Although safety was obviously paramount, it didn’t make a huge difference to making sure the young people had a great time, although the fist bumps had to stop!! 

Streetsport felt rewarding prior to lockdown, but now, as a volunteer, it feels even more rewarding because life is a lot more difficult for everyone due to COVID-19 and this is a great way of having a positive effect on young people’s lives. 

When asked about Dave’s impact on the charity, Denis Law Legacy Trusts Mark Williams said “Dave is an absolute rock within Streetsport, he has time for everyone and has a big positive influence on a Streetsport session. The participants think the world of him thanks to his great outlook on life and belief in what he is helping them achieve”

If you would like to hear more about supporting the Denis Law Legacy Trust or even helping Dave at a Streetsport session just reach out to us on streetsport@rgu.ac.uk for more information.