Trailblazing the way for Kent Volunteers – One Year On

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work for London 2012? Always wanted to volunteer your help towards making the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games special? One individual from Kent is certainly living that dream.

David Bower, from Tunbridge Wells, became a ‘Trailblazer’ volunteer in January 2009. Trailblazers are volunteers who work directly within LOCOG (London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games) headquarters in Canary Wharf, performing a wide range of administrative duties across all departments.

A former employee at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, David was selected among the first group of 23 Trailblazer volunteers to be recruited. After being selected from over 600 applications, he was also one of only five men to be chosen. 41 people have now been through the Trailblazer programme, contributing between them an impressive 4,041 man hours to the London 2012 preparations from January 2009 until the end of August 2009.

Initially David volunteered one day per week with the Communications Team at London 2012, tasked with managing enquiries from the public and organisations around the world about the Games. Now however, David has progressed to work within the Legal Team where he assists one of the non-executive LOCOG Board members who has particular interests in community affairs and educational, diversity and legacy aspects of the Games.

David said “My typical day (Thursday of every week) starts at around 10am which gives me time to travel up to Canary Wharf from Tonbridge. We are based in the upper floors of the One Churchill Place building which give staggering views of London, the river Thames and we can easily see the Olympic Park and have watched it develop apace!

“All the offices are open plan and you can readily talk to people from all departments and get a clear picture of what is going on. As you can imagine, everyone is committed as there is no opportunity for delay or deferment – the Games must start in July 2012!”

“I was sitting near to Seb Coe’s office when…”

The volunteer role at London 2012 has not simply been limited to administrative duties, and David has experienced a variety of fantastic activities as he explained; “As well as my office duties I have had two trips to the Olympic Park site, have helped with a conference at the Royal Opera House for the Games’ major National and International partners, and also with conferences involving the IOC and other sporting organisations. We regularly have after-work briefings with sports bodies and their governing bodies, often represented by well-known sports personalities who tell us about their sports and achievements and what competing in 2012 means for them and their sport. I have even been interviewed about my experiences as a volunteer by BBC London TV!

“One day, shortly after I started, I was sitting near to Seb Coe’s office when in walked Dame Kelly Holmes!  Seb knew I lived in Tonbridge and introduced me. We had a long chat about her part in promoting sport and the Games and she was interested in the Trailblazers’ role.

Motivation to volunteer

“It was not just the sporting aspects which attracted me to volunteer; equally it was the opportunity to be part of a great occasion both for our nation and internationally. I have participated in community voluntary activities throughout my life but now I am retired I am busier with voluntary work then when I was working. I am chair of a governing body for a school in Tonbridge, I am training to be a CAB adviser, and have just been enrolled as a “Kent Greeter”.

“I would advise anyone who has some spare time to register their interest in becoming a volunteer. (http://www.london2012.com/get-involved/volunteering). Up to 70,000 volunteers with a variety of skills will be needed during Games time and recruitment for these positions will start next year. The Trailblazer office based programme is separate but I hope also to be around to be a volunteer at the Games.

“I have found it a terrific experience working for an organisation committed to staging the best Games ever and leaving London and the UK with a lasting legacy”.

You can read more about David’s experience in his Kent 2012 blog, which will be coming soon!

For more information on London 2012 Trailblazing Volunteers, follow this link, or for more information about volunteering opportunities within Kent, visit the Kent eVent team website. If you are interested in becoming a Kent Greeter, visit www.visitkent.co.uk/explore/kent-greeters.asp