Lucy@Camden Sports
Lucy Nicholas, 18 is a La Swap student in Camden studying for a Level 3 NVQ in Sport. She has volunteered in a variety of roles over the past 3 years and has logged over 500 hours as a Step into Sport Volunteer through the Youth Sports Trust Leadership programme.
Lucy volunteers at a wide range of inter school competitions across Camden undertaking anything from football, basketball and rounders refereeing to coaching in gymnastics, dance and multi-sports. In addition to this she acts as a role model by speaking at school assemblies about sport and volunteering in her role as an Ambassador mentor in the Camden leadership Academy.
Lucy recently won the Young Volunteer of the year Award at the Pro-Active London Sport & Physical Activity Awards which is an exceptional achievement.
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"The more I volunteered the more people respected me and understood what I was doing...." |
Q: What motivated you to volunteer in the first place?
When I first started volunteering I didn't even realise I was. I just saw it as a way to try something different. Even though it was freezing cold at Acland Burghley school in the winter term I was still wanting to help referee. After this I went on to helping at more events and didn't really mind that I wasn't getting paid I was having fun helping other people.
The more I volunteered the more people respected me and understood what I was doing and the more I was doing.
Q: What skills do you think you have picked up through volunteering that you can use in later life?
Speaking to Miss Charlton a few weeks ago she said how much more confident I had become and I think that this is the main skill I have picked up. I'm not sure if I can say what exactly I have learned but I have become a more rounded person and I know how to communicate with different groups of people. I can share my knowledge through teaching other young people and try and inspire them.
I think the person I am now would be different if I hadn't volunteered.
Q: Why would you suggest other young people volunteer?
I think that it's enjoyable as long as it is something you find fun and want to be involved with. The good thing about volunteering is all the different people you meet and the opportunities that you can get involved in. I think that it's really important to tell young people who are interested in sport that they don't have to stay in one sport, they can try new and different ones that they might enjoy and want to be involved in. Also, you don't have to be good at a sport to volunteer in it!
Q: What is your favourite volunteering memory or experience?
I really enjoyed working with young people from Swiss Cottage Special School. It was challenging at times but also the most amazing feeling when the next week they remembered your name and wanted to do the sport from the week before because they enjoyed it so much.
The greatest thing I have done was to volunteer at the Youth Sports Trust Step into Sport Camp annual camp at Loughborough University. I got this opportunity because of the number of volunteering hours I had done through the Step into sport Programme. I knew I had worked well as part of the team but when on the last emotional day of the camp I was asked back as an exceptional leader, it just made me a stronger person and made me think more about all the things I had done.
