This week is Volunteers' Week (1-7 June) and a time when Archery GB wish to thank all those who have given up their time to support others.
Volunteers' Week celebrates the nation's army of volunteers who selflessly give up their time to support a good cause. Although celebrations are not set to take place as originally planned owing to Covid-19, the message behind the event is the same: a huge thank you to all volunteers - and a chance to discover a host of voluntary opportunities.
Post-lockdown, Archery GB headquarters at Lilleshall in Shropshire, will welcome the return of our very own hardworking volunteers. We asked para squad volunteer Jeff Marshall about his role:
Jeff explained: Â"After retiring as a mental health practitioner in the army, I needed to keep physically and mentally active. Volunteering at the Archery GB Performance Centre in Lilleshall fits the bill perfectly. I've been there for four years, and it's inspired me to take up archery at my local club.
Â"Retrieving arrows for elite para-athletes certainly keeps me moving; so does the bike ride to the centre! Sometimes the athletes ask me to score their arrows, which involves a bit of mental arithmetic, and I help the squad to move and prepare their equipment.
Â"I'm glad I started volunteering. It's great to be around people who are so accomplished, so focused on their goals, and to follow their achievements in competition. When they win, it's nice to think I made a marginal difference that may have contributed to their victory.”
If you'd like to volunteer at your local archery club, let them know! When life eventually gets back to normal, Archery GB headquarters at Lilleshall, Shropshire will welcome volunteers to help our para athletes. Want to join them? Call 01952 677 888 to register your interest. You can also visit www.archerygb.org and search ‘volunteer'.
