VC Londres Describe Their Volunteering Tradition

 

News Posted 7th November 2008 

 

As in common with the majority of cycling clubs around the country the Velo Club Londres (VCL) is reliant on volunteers. These volunteers break down into four groups: Coaches, Club, Track (the VCL run Herne Hill Velodrome) and Young Volunteers. These groups are not mutually exclusive as often a volunteer will have more then one role and therefore be in more than one group.

 

The VCL was established as a youth club in 1964 and although now an Open club it is still youth orientated with over a third of its 180 members under the age of 16. The club believe that it is an integral part of being a member of the VCL to assist with the smooth running of the club. It is normal to find a young 13 or 14 year old organising the club Christmas meal or co-ordinating a mountain biking weekend. Over the last 2 years the Herne Hill round of the National Youth Omnium Series has been organised by one of the clubs 17 year olds.

 

The young members also assist in all areas of coaching, with each age group helping the one below. This not only reinforces the coaching message but also gives them a head start should they wish to take a formal coaching qualification when they get to 16 or 18.

 

The VCL have the normal committee members of any club, but also try to share out the other jobs that occur. These other jobs are often used as a first step for new or young members into a lifetime of volunteering. They include organising club trips, meals out and club promotions. The club try to avoid having the club run by just a few people who do everything.

 

Running Herne Hill Velodrome requires a whole range of skills from Chairman, secretary and treasurer through to track maintenance co-ordinator and equipment officer. The VCL also have a number of working parties during the year that bring in most of the club members and their families to help Spring/Autumn clean at the Velodrome. These working parties are normally followed by a barbeque allowing people to talk in a social environment, often leading to the offer of further support for the club.

 

The VCL currently have 11 coaches in the club, all of whom actively coach at club and public sessions at Herne Hill Velodrome. We also welcome people from other clubs to assist at these sessions to gain their required coaching hours. The club pays the costs for any member that wants to attend a coaching course and for the tri-annual first aid course that is required. We are lucky in London that we can claim 2/3 of the coaching course fee back from Skills Active upon completion of the course. One of the main initiatives within the VCL is to actively encourage all members upon reaching 18 to attend the level 2 coaching course. This formalises the coaching that they have done during their years at the club. However it also benefits the club by having a constant flow of young enthusiastic coaches available during the University holidays.

 

At the recent AGM the club had 63 defined roles to fill these have been filled by 26 different members with 13 vacancies still to be filled for events that take place over the winter of 2009/10. By spreading the load and planning in advance VCL feel that they can involve all those that want to help at the club, whilst avoiding having individuals overloaded. Below is a list of the roles that the club has:

 

Position / Job

 

President

 

CLUB COMMITTEE

 

Chairman (Trustee)

Club Secretary (Trustee)

Club Treasurer (Trustee)

Club Welfare Officer

Club Youth Representative

Men’s Club Captain

Woman’s Club Captain

Membership SecretaryMembership Secretary Membership Secretary

Social Secretary

Member

Member

Member

Trustee

Trustee

Trustee

 

OTHER CLUB Posts

 

Club Newsletter Editor

Club Website

Club Equipment Officer

Club Clothing Coordinator

Club Clothing Distribution

Go-Ride Contact

 

TRACK COMMITTEE

 

General Manager (Chair)

Track Secretary

Financial Controller

Health & Safety Coordinator

Marketing & Promotion Manager

Bike and Equipment Maintenance Coordinator

Track Maintenance

Buildings Maintenance Coordinator

Grounds Maintenance Coordinator

Commercial Activities

Cyclo Cross Coordinator

Member

Member

 

VCL OPEN EVENTS 2009

 

VCL Southern Youth Omnium League Organiser

Crystal Palace Circuit Race Coordinator

VCL Go-ride Youth Meeting Organiser

SE Road Race League Coordinator

HH Late Summer Off-Road Series Organiser

Surrey League Coordinator

 

VCL OPEN EVENTS 2010

 

VCL New Year's Day Madison Cyclo Cross Organiser

VCL London League Cyclo Cross Organiser

 

CLUB AVTIVITIES 2009

 

Annual Dinner Organiser

Tour of Flanders Coordinator

Mildenhall Grass Track Coordinator

Bedgbury Forest MTB Organiser

Ride of the Falling Leaves Coordinator

Wales MTB Weekend Organiser

Firework Organiser

Ghent 6 Coordinator

Hill climb Organiser

Christmas Lunch Organiser

 

CLUB AVTIVITIES 2010

 

Club Dinner Organiser

Calshot Training Organiser

Newport Training Organiser

South Downs Way MTB Organiser

 

CLUB WINTER AVTIVITIES

 

Monday Turbo Organiser

Tuesday Gym Organiser

Friday Turbo Organiser

Sunday Ride Leader – Fast

Sunday Ride Leader – Medium

Sunday Ride Leader – Slow