Sport Volunteering Programme

We offer a wide variety of flexible volunteering opportunities, open to students and staff.

UWE Bristol's Sport Volunteering Programme provides placements at local schools, clubs, with UWE Bristol Sport and the Students’ Union at UWE. 

Opportunities are designed to fit around your lifestyle, so timings are flexible and you can commit to as many sessions as you want. 

Sport volunteers receive:

  • sports kit
  • mentoring and support throughout your placement
  • funding towards coaching education courses
  • references for your CV

For further information, email sportvolunteering@uwe.ac.uk or register your interest in taking part via the online form.

Register your interest

UWE Sports Volunteer with a group of school pupils on a football field, smiling with their thumbs up.

Sports leadership training

The sport leadership programme provides leadership training and supports you to develop core skills and competencies through your placement.

Luke Burgess, President of UWE Athletics, talks about his experience on the Sports Volunteering Programme.

Benefits of a sport volunteer placement

As well as being a fun way to help others, sport volunteering helps you to develop valuable employability skills and experiences that will enhance your CV:

  • communication skills
  • teamwork
  • problem solving
  • planning and organising
  • time management
  • teaching skills
  • information technology

Coaching and officiating course funding

Sports Volunteer Programme participants can access funding to complete coaching and officiating courses in return for an agreed number of voluntary hours.

Perfect for aspiring coaches and officials, these courses help you to develop your coaching and delivery skills and gain experience within sports coaching and physical education.

We also offer a range of paid coaching opportunities.

For further information email sportvolunteering@uwe.ac.uk.

Officiating courses

National Governing Bodies provide sports coaching and officiating courses which can be funded through the Sport Volunteering Programme.

MOVE Activator

We work in partnership with a National Governing Bodies to offer students an eight-month voluntary position at the University as a MOVE Activator.

As a MOVE Activator you will:

  • organise and deliver MOVE sessions
  • run a league – organising fixtures, teams and referees
  • manage drop-in sports sessions (e.g netball, football, volleyball, flag football, hockey)  

To find out more or apply to become a MOVE Activator email sportvolunteering@uwe.ac.uk.

"Volunteering gives me a real sense of fulfilment when I see the development and newfound enthusiasm of participants. This programme has provided me with the opportunity to bridge the gap between learning and teaching."

Student, BEng(Hons) Electronic and Computer Engineering, Volunteer Coach at Bowmoor Sailing Club

Student BEng(Hons) Electronic and Computer Engineering, Volunteer Coach at Bowmoor Sailing Club

Swim teaching and coaching

Bristol Penguin Olympic Swimming Club (BPOSC) is a community-based swimming club with sites across Bristol.

The club offers children's swimming lessons and hosts 300 swimmers in competitive and club squads, ranging from stage 7 swimmers to regional-level and masters swimmers. BPOSC compete in local leagues as well as county, district and open competitions.

Volunteers can gain coaching and teaching experience, You will work alongside fully qualified volunteers, who provide support and guidance, so you don't need prior experience.

If you volunteer for six months, you could receive 50% funding from BPOSC to attend an ASA level 1 swimming teaching/coaching course – the remaining 50% can be funded through the Sport Volunteering Programme.

If you volunteer on a weekly basis, you would be able to swim with BPOSC for a reduced fee.

Visit Bristol Penguins for locations and times.

Contact Polly Mullen for further information: polly.mullen@bristolpenguins.com.

Related links

Awareness Training

Further opportunities 

Taking part in the Sport Volunteering Programme will develop skills that are well suited to many other volunteering and paid opportunities.

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Two students laughing on the volleyball court at a MOVE session in the Centre for Sport.

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Explore the gym facilities and range of exercise classes at the Centre for Sport on Frenchay Campus.