September 2019 saw the launch of the new Swim England North West Young Volunteer Award.

The award is designed to provide young persons (between the ages of 14-17) from all aquatic disciplines, the opportunity to develop their knowledge, skills and experience to prepare them as volunteers within aquatic sport.

The SENW Young Volunteer Award aims to:

• Provide young individuals with an overview of the different volunteering pathways; coaching/teaching, events and officiating.
• Provide information about the different roles which volunteers undertake to continue the development of aquatic sports.
• Support and develop transferable skills, which can be used to enhance education and future job applications.
• Provide young individuals with volunteering experience which can be evidenced and utilised in conjunction with The Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

Young volunteers were originally required to attend a face to face introduction day and utilise their workbooks to complete their award.  However, due to the pandemic, the award was adapted once again to enable future young volunteers to attend online Zoom sessions and allocate their work utilising Google Classroom.

All young volunteers are provided with a YVA T-Shirt which they are asked to wear when carrying out any practical activities to complete their award.

Young volunteers are required to speak to their home club before registering on the award – this is to ensure the club are able to provide the required support during the 12 months to assist YV’s to successfully complete the award.

Online Young Volunteers Courses (Nov 2020 – present):

Young Volunteers will have 12 months from the date of their 2nd Zoom session to complete the their award, which must be prior to their 18th birthday.

The content of the YVA is the same as the face to face courses, however set out as follows:

• Zoom session 1 – 3 hour session
  • Access to Google Classroom provided
  • Introduction to the YVA
  • Volunteers in aquatic sport
• Zoom session 2 – 2 hour session
  • Working as a team
  • Hazard identification
  • Evaluating performance
  • Qualities of a good coach/teacher

Following the 2 x Zoom sessions – YV’s will be allocated their work at various intervals during the 12 months of their award through their Google Classroom.  Work includes:

• Online assignments
• Shadowing experiences
  • Coaches/Teachers
  • Officials/Volunteers
• Officials qualification/experience relevant to their discipline

We have produced two documents to provide parents/clubs a more detailed overview of the ‘Online’ YV Award

Young Volunteer Award – Overview for Parents

Young Volunteer Award – Overview for Clubs

SENW have been recognised by The Duke of Edinburgh as a DofE Centre which means that as an organisation we are able to offer the Volunteering, Physical and Skills sessions of the DofE Awards. Any person wishing to complete their DofE Awards will need to find another centre (alternatively through school) who can offer the expedition section of their award.