The document summarizes feedback from 151 volunteers about their experience volunteering at the Special Olympics. Volunteers reported both positive and negative experiences. Positively, volunteers enjoyed watching the athletes compete and said the atmosphere was rewarding. However, some reported issues with organization, communication, and long work hours. If given more resources, volunteers suggested improvements like better facilities, publicity, and food options to enhance the volunteer experience.

1. Volunteering Experience
Feedback

2. • This has been put together by Voluntary Action
LeicesterShire from a questionnaire sent out several
weeks after the Games. We had 151 responses.
• Everything here is a quote from a volunteer.
• We’ve tried to pick out some of the best, average
and some critical (when they exist) comments to
reflect the spectrum of opinion.

3. Sum up the experience of Volunteering at
the Special Olympics for you…
“Exhausting,
“Wow” “Memories will invigorating
last for the rest
but ultimately
of my life.”
unbelievable.”
“Incredible
experience.” “Athletes were
Amazing.”

4. Experiences of volunteers
• Training was competent • Some of the words and
interesting and friendly language used was difficult to
understand
• Good to meet other
volunteers before the event • Handing out of uniforms and
ID was chaotic
• Would have been beneficial
for all volunteers to be able to • More information on the sites
opt for preferred venues volunteers were working on
• Admin for SOL pre-event
needed to be better planned

5. What were the two best things about
volunteering at the Special Olympics?
“Watching the range of “Seeing the joy on athletes
competitors compete. faces. Looking forward to the
The athletes and their next day.”
supporters.”
“Really good Atmosphere. “Being proud of
Enjoyed everything” my city”
“Helping others less fortunate
than me. A good feeling factor.”

6. Two best things about volunteering SOL
• Meeting such dedicated athletes. • The athletes made it a special,
wonderful and friendly environment
• Working with other committed to work in.
volunteers.
• Appreciating the skills that
• Helping to make the games a everyone has irrespective of age,
success. ability or gender.
• Meeting special people, • First time worked with people
volunteers and athletes. having learning difficulties, learned
a lot about them.
• Terrific team work within the
volunteers. • Being overwhelmed by how much
the coaches had put in preparing
• All the great dedicated people. the athletes.
• Very rewarding watching the • Helping and having a smile.
athletes get their awards.
• Working with such a caring team.

7. What were the two worst things about
volunteering at the Special Olympics?
“Having to say “It was over
Goodbye.” too soon.”
“Early “Weather,
mornings” the rain! ”

8. Two worst things about volunteering at SOL
• The lack of volunteer kit. • Delay in getting athletes to the
opening ceremony
• Could have had more hot food.
• Being treated unfairly by co-
• Transport costs were workers
expensive.
• Communication not always good
• Not always organised and not
having calls returned • Not knowing the schedule of
events during the day
• Took time to get ID/ verification
• Not knowing when volunteers
• Work wasn’t shared equally were required therefore difficult to
between volunteers arrange time off work
In all 36 comments were received.

9. Do you have any feedback on the experience
of being signed up and trained for the Special
Olympics?
“It all ran brilliantly”
“Training on special needs excellent”
“Quick and easy to be signed up”
“Treated as equals”

10. Feedback on being signed up and trained
• Training was competent • Some of the words and
interesting and friendly language used was difficult
to understand
• Good to meet other
volunteers before the event • Handing out of uniforms and
ID was chaotic
• Would have been beneficial
for all volunteers to be able • More information on the sites
to opt for preferred venues volunteers were working on
• Admin for SOL pre-event
needed to be better planned

11. Do you have any feedback on how you were
managed/co-ordinated during the actual
Games week?
“We had lots of fun”
“Warm enthusiastic welcome”
“Plenty of information”
“Coordinators were brilliant”

12. Any feedback on how you were managed/
coordinated during the games
• Management and coordinators • Some of the managers had too
was excellent and professional many volunteers
• Team coordinators and • The first day was hectic
venue managers were always
accessible • Equestrian event needs full
risk assessment and specialist
• Encouraged to implement own volunteers
ideas
• First day disorganised
• Warm and enthusiastic
welcome • Information available across
venues varied
• Good leadership
• Rotation of jobs good
• Always given feedback
• Always knew who was in
charge

13. If money was no object what could be done
differently at the next Special Olympics?
“More media coverage”
“Reduce the entry fee to competitors”
“More publicity”
“Celebrities to open event”

14. If money was no object what could be done
differently
• Better spectator viewing • Travel information and maps
facilities for public transport need to be
better publicised
• Interactive screens
• More selection of food for
• More publicity outside of volunteers
local area
• Different coloured uniforms
• More evening social events for VVTM coordinators and
volunteers
There were 40 different responses to the question

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