CASE 2

Case Study: The XVII Commonwealth Games 2002 Manchester - a

Volunteering Legacy

Introduction

In May 2001 a major recruitment programme was launched to fill the 10,000 volunteering roles needed to

underpin the delivery of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. In order to qualify, applicants had

to be available to work for at least 10 days, attend interview and training sessions and have reached 16

years of age by 1 December 2001. In return they would have the opportunity to play an important role at

the third largest sporting event in the world, an event which would occupy a unique place in the city's

history.

Facing the Challenge. Initially there was some concern expressed as to whether it would be possible to fill

all the positions. A volunteer programme on this scale was unprecedented in peacetime Britain. Many

predicted that the recruitment of 10,000 unpaid workers would prove difficult in a country in which the

profile of volunteering was seen primarily in terms of charity shop workers and not part of the nation's wider

cultural identity. However, these reservations proved to be totally unfounded as there was a tremendous

response from the people of Manchester and the North West (around 80% of those whose applications

were successful originated from the North West of England).

In total 22,346 people applied for the 10,311 Games-time roles of which 53% were women and 47%

men. Over 56% of applications were received over the Internet, with 70% of people aged 20-24 filling in

their forms on-line. Older people preferred the more traditional method of sending their application (around

80% of people 65 and over applied by post). The oldest volunteer was 87 year old Desmond Pastore from

Northenden Manchester, who worked as an assistant on the statistics desk at the Rugby 7s tournament.

Aim of the Programme. One of the aims of the volunteer programme was to encourage applications from

the long term unemployed, ethnic minorities, people from disadvantaged areas and those with disabilities

and special needs.

A Pre Volunteer Programme (PVP), part of the NW 2002 Social and Economic Legacy programme,

had already been in operation in 23 regeneration areas around the North West since early 2000. The

programme offered training, the chance to achieve a qualification in event volunteering and enhanced

opportunities for volunteering for the Games itself. During 2001, events and road shows were held across

Manchester and the North West to recruit volunteers from the targeted groups.

Once appointed, all volunteers were issued with the Crew 2002 Games uniform which was designed to

be distinctive and easily identifiable. The uniform with its purple shell suit and northern style flat cap initially

attracted negative comments, but the resulting national media attention, combined with the fact that

Coronation Street's Norris Cole regularly donned his outfit during the popular TV show, helped to raise

awareness of the Games across Britain.

By the end of the Games, the volunteer uniform became a symbol of the huge contribution made to the

event's success by the purple army.

Volunteer Roles. The volunteers were perhaps most visible when directing spectators around the city

centre or acting as stewards for the sports venues. However, they were involved in many different aspects

of the running of the Games in fields as diverse as logistics, medical services, catering and marketing.

The venue which employed the most volunteers was the Games Village (1247), followed by Sports

City Plaza (1096) and the City of Manchester Stadium (967). In terms of the supporting infrastructure,

transport required the most voluntary staff (2234), with event services next (1314) and security third (940).

City guides provided 281 volunteers to provide a warm welcome, signpost walking routes to the

stadium and deliver front line visitor information. Road Events had the largest number of sports event

volunteers (just over 200) followed by Athletics (just under 150) and Lawn Bowls (around 80).

The volunteer programme was certainly one of the major success stories of the Commonwealth

Games. The friendliness and enthusiasm of the volunteers earned them high praise from athletes,

spectators and national media alike; and there is no doubt that they can also claim some credit for the

more positive image of Manchester that emerged from the Games.

Volunteer Feedback. It is also clear from the testimony of the volunteers themselves that they found

their time at the Games to be a most enjoyable and rewarding experience. Indeed comments such as 'the

best time of my life' and 'amazing experience' are frequently repeated in their descriptions of how they felt

to be part of 'Crew 2002'. For a few volunteers their Games experience proved to be the passport to longer

term employment, whilst others were happy just to have been taken part in such a prestigious event.

However the closing event at the City of Manchester stadium did not signify the end of the volunteer

programme but rather the beginning.

Post Games Volunteer Programme. After the games were over, volunteers from the North West and

participants in the PVP scheme were given the opportunity to take part in the Post Games Volunteer

Programme (PGVP). This project ran from January 2003 until March 2005.

The aim of this project was to respond to the upsurge in interest and the positive experience of

volunteering. Games volunteers became involved in community projects as well as major events including

the Salford Triathlon and Great Manchester Run. The project also offered support to volunteers who were

seeking to gain new skills and experience or looking for a route back into employment. The summer of

2003 saw the volunteers back on the streets as city guides providing a very northern welcome to the

70,000 Italians in Manchester for the UEFA Champions League Final at Old Trafford. More than 150

events across the region including the London Triathlon in 2004 and the World Paralympics in 2005 have

benefitted from the volunteers' continuing commitment.

In April 2005 the volunteering legacy continued to run as the project was mainstreamed into

Manchester City Council's structure as Manchester Event Volunteers. Over 2500 volunteers are now

registered on the database. Manchester Event Volunteering is open to both Commonwealth Games

volunteers and new members.

For further details about the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games legacy, please visit

web.archive.org/web/20071022064134/www.gameslegacy.com. The Manchester Event Volunteer

programme can be contacted on e..y@mev.org.uk. The M2002 records and archive are now held at

Central Library Manchester.

By Manchester City Council's Games Xchange, the information legacy programme. (Bowdin,

20120523)Bowdin, G., Allen, J., Harris, R., McDonnell, I., O'Toole, W. (20120523). Events Management,

3rd Edition [VitalSource Bookshelf version]. Retrieved from vbk://9781136445118Always check citation for

accuracy before use.

Questions

How can the success of the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games Volunteer Programme be

measured?

What role does recognition play in the success of the events volunteer programme?

What functions does a volunteer training manual perform?

Can you suggest any additional means by which the legacy of the volunteer programme can be

continued?

Bowdin, G., Allen, J., Harris, R., McDonnell, I., O'Toole, W. (20120523). Events

Management, 3rd Edition [VitalSource Bookshelf version]. Retrieved from

vbk://9781136445118