Volunteer for the Greatest Show on Earth - McCausland

Sports Minister, Nelson McCausland, today launched a new fund which is designed to encourage people to volunteer for the London 2012 games.

The 2012 NIVolunteers Bursary Scheme is designed to financially support Northern Ireland individuals who wish to become volunteers for the games.

Speaking at today’s launch in Belfast, Minister McCausland said: "London seeks to attract, train and retain up to 70,000 dedicated and inspirational people from all over the UK, for a wide variety of volunteer roles during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. I want to make sure the people of Northern Ireland have every opportunity to participate as a volunteer and gain this once in a lifetime experience.

"Today I would not only encourage as many people as possible to consider the volunteering opportunity associated with the 2012 Games, but would ask businesses to consider committing to this scheme as a bursary supporter. My Department has committed to the scheme by offering match funding up to a total of £30,000. For every £1,500 a supporter organisation provides, my Department will match this amount and I welcome BT's announcement that it is the first bursary supporter."

The launch of 2012 NIVolunteers coincides with the London2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Volunteer Recruitment Campaign that opened for applications to the public for generalist volunteers today.

The Minister concluded: "The 2012 NIVolunteers Bursary Scheme, developed by my Department in partnership with Volunteer Now, will ensure equality of opportunity, widen the accessibility of applicants and reduce some of the potential barriers that Northern Ireland applicants could encounter.

"I also envisage that the scheme will help create a positive legacy for volunteering in Northern Ireland, which will further help us in our preparations for the World Police and Fire Games in 2013."

Welcoming the scheme Wendy Osborne OBE, Chief Executive, Volunteer Now said: "2012NIVolunteers Bursary will enable us to maximise the impact of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Northern Ireland. We wish to ensure that everyone in Northern Ireland who has a desire to be a Games Maker gets the opportunity to fulfill this ambition and the Bursary scheme will provide the unique opportunity to provide tangible support for local people to take part in the Games as volunteers."

Notes to editors:

1. The 2012 NIVolunteers Bursary was launched this morning at Riverside Tower, BT’s Offices in Belfast. BT is the official communication services partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.
2. ‘Volunteer Now’ is a new regional to local organisation which works to promote, enhance and support volunteering across Northern Ireland. Formed on 01 April 2010, as a result of a merger of nine Volunteer Centres and the Volunteer Development Agency, the new organisation will enhance recognition for the contribution of volunteers, provide greater access to opportunities and increase the number of people getting involved.
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