Volunteers' Week - University helper and Team Leader

Twenty year old Seren Lois Evans is a young volunteer from North Wales, studying Sport, Health and Exercise Science at Bangor University. Here  she talks to Welsh Athletics about her involvement and fulfillmet as a volunteer: 

I am a young ambassador intern for Sport Wales in the North West Wales area, and work very closely with the local authorities of Gwynedd and Anglesey when it comes to volunteering across the board of sports. My roles involve supporting young people from reception age up until sixth form and university; from engaging athletes from a very young age in their after school sports clubs and camps, to promoting volunteering prospects for young people so that they become more employable and prepared for when they leave full time education.

I have always had an interest in athletics from a very young age, from the 100m sprint when I started secondary school to transferring my skills on to the hurdles and high-jump, where I won the under 15’s Gwynedd title at Treborth, Bangor. Although it may seem a small achievement, it certainly impacted the way I saw athletics and I developed masses of respect for diversity and skills required for the sport.

I started volunteering for the URDD when I entered the University in Bangor and I remain involved with their volunteering opportunities until this day. I volunteered for a week at the Eisteddfod in Flintshire last summer and supported the athletics sessions every day throughout the week, and it was a joy to see young children and adults getting involved and enjoying various aspects of athletics in the sunshine: from javelin to sprinting. Their athletics after-school clubs also play a massive role in the recruitment of young children into the local athletics club at Treborth and it has been great to see them develop their knowledge and skills over such a short period of time.

The benefits of volunteering is infinite; it shows dedication, compassion and commitment towards the sport and it is exactly what employers and universities look for in applications. It has certainly helped me in getting me where I am today as an intern and I have made some crucial contacts along the way for future reference. Not only this, but I also had the privilege of meeting Sabrina Fortune, Paralympics shot put bronze medal winner of the Rio Olympics at a disability inclusivity event in Caernarfon, ran by the local authority. She truly was an inspiration to all the young children and adults, reinstating that anything is possible within athletics, as long as you set your heart to it.

My highlight of volunteering in athletics would have to be taking the North Wales team to Manchester for the UK Sportshall athletics final after they won the Welsh championship in Cardiff. I had the opportunity to officiate at the Shot Put; something that I had never done before, and I was mentored by an experienced official so that by the end of the day could identify foul throws and successful throwing techniques. It was also an eye opener to see the talent that the UK posses with regards to athletics and the way the sport has opened doors to young individuals across the board. This has also led me to getting an opportunity to volunteer at Menai Track and Field to start in September, hopefully gaining a Level 1 coaching qualification in athletics.

My other interests include playing rugby and hockey, and I am constantly involved in sport from helping out when coaching local rugby clusters to officiating netball tournaments in the North Wales area. I have not only gained countless and crucial qualifications from volunteering in rugby, netball and athletics, but also developed knowledge, confidence and competence in sport that I try my best to transfer on to aspiring young athletes of our generation.