What is a Volunteer?

There is no legal definition of a ‘volunteer' and the word is often used by many different people, to mean different things. However the definition of volunteering used in the 1997 National Survey of Volunteering is "any activity which involves spending time, unpaid, doing something which aims to benefit someone (individuals or groups) other than or in addition to close relatives, or to benefit the environment". Please note that the word ‘volunteer' within gymnastics includes all coaches, officials, committees, trustees, parent helpers and anyone else who gives their time free of charge.

Volunteering should be based around the following four principles:

1. Choice -Volunteering must be a choice freely made by individuals

2. Diversity - Voluntering should be open to all

3. Reciprocity - Volunteers should benefit from their contribution, for example, gaining useful skills, experience and contacts, socialising and fun

4. Recognition - Recognition of the value of volunteering and volunteers is implicit