This week we want to shine a spotlight on Steph, Henry and Shaun who all help the community to change lives through sport.
Steph Atkinson volunteers for Little Victories In The Community and Barton Inclusive FC, Teeny Tots.
She has been volunteering for over 5 years and says the best part of volunteering is "Seeing the smiles every single week and watching individuals achieve things that they never thought possible."
Volunteering has provided many opportunities for Steph from starting out as a Welfare Officer to moving into coaching and now to her role as a Project Lead at Little Victories.
Her top 3 words for volunteering are:
Steph is also mum to Henry and Herbie who are two of our fantastic Community Ambassadors at Active Humber. Henry is also a young volunteer at Barton Inclusive Football Club, Teeny Tots and has been for over 2 years. He joined Little Victories Cerebral Palsy Football to play a sport that was adaptive to his needs. He loves being part of the team and wants to promote inclusive football so that more children with disabilities can join, make friends, and enjoy the sport.
One of the most enjoyable parts about volunteering Henry says is because it not only makes himself happy but other people too. It also allows him to see the change in people when they achieve their goals!
His top 3 words for volunteering are:
6% of people volunteer at least once a week. Their contribution delivers £163m in wellbeing benefits annually.* [*Source Sport England Active Lives Data 2023. You can also find this data in our KADA report]. Volunteering has many rewarding benefits, it offers personal growth, skill development, a sense of accomplishment, and happiness, while also benefiting the community.
Shaun also volunteers with Little Victories FC, Little Victories Active and he recently won the Volunteer Of The Year Award at the Disability Sports Yorkshire Awards. He has been a volunteer for over 5 years because he is passionate about helping people rebuild confidence, keeping active, and feeling included.
He said: "Volunteering has taught me patience, adaptability, and the power of encouragement."
His top 3 words for volunteering are:
Volunteers are vital to keeping the Humber moving, we work with volunteering organisations to provide opportunities for volunteering to be easy and accessible. You can find out more about Active Humber on our website or get in touch at info@activehumber.co.uk
