Active Stirling Volunteer Awards 2024

Young Volunteer Coach of the Year

This award is for an outstanding coach aged between 14-21 (as of January 1st, 2023) in a school, club, community group or community sport hub or Active Stirling programme.

Within the form we are looking for nominations that highlight individuals who:

• Is an inspiring role model to other young people and people delivering to.
• Delivers enthusiastic and motivational sessions.
• Has provided opportunities that are inclusive to all and remove barriers to allow all to participate.
• Has invested time and effort into their own personal development.
• Is an approachable individual who understands participant needs and works as a team with other colleagues around them.
• Has delivered minimum of 40hrs in the calendar year 2023.

Volunteer Coach of the Year

This award is for an outstanding coach aged 22+ (as of January 1st, 2023) in a school, club, community group or community sport hub or Active Stirling programme.

Within the form we are looking for nominations that highlight individuals who:

• Is an inspiring role model.
• Acts as mentor to other coaches and volunteers
• Delivers enthusiastic and motivational sessions.
• Has provided opportunities that are inclusive to all and remove barriers to allow all to participate.
• Has invested time and effort into their own personal development.
• Is an approachable individual who understands participant needs and works as a team with other colleagues around them.
• Has delivered minimum of 40hrs in the calendar year 2023.

Young Volunteer of the Year

This award is for an outstanding volunteer, aged between 14-21 (as of January 1st, 2023) in a school, club, community group or community sport hub, Active Stirling programme. The recipient will have made a significant contribution to the development of sport and physical activity in their role as a volunteer.

Within the form we are looking for nominations that highlight individuals who:

• Has been a leader such as an ambassador, decision maker or organiser.
• Has supported activities beyond the coaching role (for example: fundraising, travelling, social media, session planning, mentoring, or profiling)
• Is an inspiring role model to other young people.
• Has adopted a person-centred approach to volunteering, taking time to understand people's needs and supporting others. 
• They may have taken on one or more special initiatives to help others and the organisation.
• Consistently makes additional efforts in their role.
• Has volunteered a minimum of 40 hours in 2023.

Volunteer of the Year

This award is for an outstanding volunteer, aged 22+ (as of January 1st, 2023) in a school, club, community group or community sport hub or in Active Stirling programme. The recipient will have made a significant contribution to the development of sport and physical activity in their role as a volunteer.

Within the form we are looking for nominations that highlight individuals who:

• Has been a leader such as an ambassador, decision maker or organiser.
• Has supported activities beyond the coaching role (for example: fundraising, travelling, social media, session planning, mentoring, or profiling)
• They may have taken on one or more special initiatives to help others and the organisation.
• Is an inspiring role model to other people.
• Has adopted a person-centred approach to volunteering, taking time to understand people's needs and supporting others. 
• Has volunteered a minimum of 40 hours in 2023.

Sports Leader of the Year – Across the academic year 23/24

This award is for an outstanding Sports leader who has demonstrated the initiative to volunteer, in a school, club, community group or community sport hub or Health and wellbeing hub. The recipient will have made a significant contribution to the delivery or development of sport and physical activity in their role as a volunteer.

This young person will have demonstrated commitment to their role, they will also have shown adaptability and resilience.

Within the nominations we are looking for examples that highlight individuals who:

• Has been a leader such as a sports leader, young ambassador, decision maker or organiser for part of school sports councils, fit for girl’s ambassador. Made informed discission on which activities to offer and to when.
• Extensive delivery of extra-curricular opportunities.
• Is an inspiring role model to other people.
• Has adopted a person-centred approach to volunteering, taking time to understand people's needs and supporting others. They are kind, helpful and inclusive.

Parent Volunteer of the Year

This award is for an outstanding parent volunteer, in a school club or health and wellbeing hub. The recipient will have made a significant contribution to the development of sport and physical activity in their role as a volunteer. Demonstrating commitment, resilience, and the ability to adapt sessions to participants needs.

• Extensive delivery of extra-curricular opportunities.
• Is an inspiring role model to other people.
• Has adopted a person-centred approach to volunteering, taking time to understand people's needs and supporting others. They are kind, helpful and inclusive.
• Has supported other volunteers within their school.

School Staff Volunteer of the year

This award is for an outstanding Schools staff member volunteer, in a school, club or health and wellbeing hub. The recipient will have made a significant contribution to the development of sport and physical activity in their role as a volunteer. Demonstrating Commitment, resilience, and the ability to adapt sessions to participants needs.

• Extensive delivery of extra-curricular opportunities.
• Is an inspiring role model to other people.
• Has adopted a person-centred approach to volunteering, taking time to understand people's needs and supporting others. They are kind, helpful and inclusive.
• Has supported other volunteers within their school.
• Has offered opportunities based in response to pupil need.
• Has offered opportunities based on their own passion and expertise.
• Has learned a new skill in response to pupil need or request.

SportAbility Volunteer of the Year award

This award will be presented to a volunteer who has made an outstanding contribution to the SportAbility Programme, in recognition of their commitment this year.

The Individual will have:

• Worked in any aspect of the SportAbility Programme that without them the programme would not be the same.
• Given up a substantial amount of time to volunteer to support disability sport and physical activity opportunities.
• Been an inspiration and positive role model for participants and peers.

SportAbility Club of the Year

The SportAbility Club of the year award will be presented to the club that has demonstrated the following.

• Significantly increased inclusion within the club environment
• Developed sporting opportunities for individuals with a disability.
• Increased the competition opportunities available to their athletes with disabilities.
• The club has provided their volunteers and coaches with training opportunities.
• Have identified and nurtured athletes to allow them to further develop.

Club of the Year

This award is for a sports club that has made a significant impact over the past year (2023), providing activities or services to keep their members/participants engaged and to encourage new Stirling residents to get involved. This club will have achieved great things or made some standout changes to make their opportunities accessible to all. Nominated clubs must be affiliated to ClubSport Stirling at the time of nomination.

Within the form we are looking for nominations that highlight clubs who for example:

• Has implemented a strong coach development structure.
• Can demonstrate being inclusive and providing opportunities for all.
• Has recognised and rewarded their members and volunteers.
• Can evidence ways they have improved their member experience.
• Actions to engage their community (such as school links or community events)

Community Impact Award

This award is for a school, club, community group, community sport hub or Active Stirling programme.

to highlight the projects they have put in place that benefit the community. This award is more than just sport & physical activity- it is about how projects have used sport & physical activity to have a positive impact on the community.

Within the form we are looking for nominations that highlight:

• Projects targeted at a specific audience.
• Projects that have raised funds for a local charity.
• Involvement of participants in the development of the projects.
• Ways to sustain and grow projects.
• Projects which can demonstrate having clearly defined outcomes (such as reducing social isolation, increasing confidence of participants).

Walk Leader of the year

This award is for the volunteer walk leader community involved in the Active Stirling Walking Network. While it is recognised that all of the walk leaders make a huge contribution this award aims to provide recognition to someone who is outstanding in some or all of the following:

• Motivates participants and other walk leaders through their enthusiasm and professionalism.
• Goes the extra mile in helping and supporting others.
• Leads interesting walks that adapt to the participants as required.
• Displays commitment and / or resilience.
• Is always approachable and friendly.
• Actively looks to the future of their walk encouraging participation and future walk leaders.

Walking Group of the year

This award is for the walking groups involved in the Active Stirling Walking Network. It is aimed at groups who display some or all of the following:

• Togetherness and a sense of community is at the heart of the walk.
• Regular repeat attendees
• A welcoming attitude to new attendees
• A belief that the walk is shaped by the participants and not just the leaders.
• A progressive attitude in adapting the walks, and any linked activities, as the walk matures / evolves.

Most Walking Volunteer Hours

This award is calculated by Active Stirling for walk leaders involved in the Active Stirling Walking Network. The calculation is based on the following:

• Number of walks actively involved in as a leader multiplied by the suggested unit time for that walk.
• Note that this will therefore exclude time spent undertaking admin tasks, planning and pre walking routes.

Wider Achievement

This award is for someone who has shown ingenious, creativity and resilience to use sport and physical activity to enable life changing experience. This award is open to participants and deliverers who has achieved sustained change through sport and physical activity.

For example:

• Support people to access sport & physical activity / breakdown barriers.
• Support individuals to maximise their potential.
• Has created or been involved in a programme with a sustain impact.