vinvolvedlr | OLYMPICS 2012

LONDON OLYMPICS 2012 - SOME INFORMATION:

LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS – VOLUNTEERING:

FULL DETAILS AT: www.london2012.com

Here’s a brief overview of information from their Website:

Being a Games Maker:

By now you probably have a good idea of what it means to be a London 2012 Games Maker and what types of roles there will be.

We will recruit volunteers from across the UK, from a diverse range of communities and backgrounds. We value and embrace diversity – be it age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion and belief or sexual orientation.

In this section you can find out if you are eligible to be a Games Maker and whether you have the values that we are looking for.

Once you have done that, why not take our London 2012 Games Maker challenge to see if you've got what it takes to become a Games Maker? Then you can decide whether or not to apply when applications open in September.

Availability:

You must:

- be available throughout the period of the Olympic Games and/or the Paralympic Games;

- be willing to volunteer for a minimum of 10 days at either the Olympic Games or the Paralympic Games; or for a minimum of 20 days if you want to volunteer at both.

- be able to attend a minimum of three training sessions before the Games (a minimum of 15 hours spread over three days); and

- be willing to accept the role and venue you are offered.

Age:

Many – but by no means all – of our roles will require volunteers to be 18 or over by 1 January 2012. We want to give young people the chance to volunteer at the Games too! We will unveil our Young Games Maker programme for under 18s in summer 2011.

Application:

The first stage on the journey to becoming a London 2012 Games Maker is to complete the online application form – this will take you 30–40 minutes.

Once you have submitted your application form, you will receive a confirmation email. This will allow you to access the Games Maker zone – a portal personalised with your details and only accessible by applicants to the London 2012 Games Maker programme.

Here you will be able to manage your application and update your personal details, particularly any changes to your contact address, email address and telephone number.

If you do not have access to the Internet, you will be able to get online at your local library or museum, where you will also receive help if you need to set up an email account.

We will make sure the application form is available in an accessible format, but in case you are unable to complete it online we will provide details of an alternative way to apply on the first page of the form.

We will start accepting applications for generalist volunteering roles from 15 September 2010. We will start sorting through the application forms in December and will invite successful applicants to attend a selection event in 2011.

Timeline:

The London 2012 Games Maker journey will be a long one so here are some key dates to keep in mind.

Finding up to 70,000 Games Makers is a hugely complex task. Because we want to give every application the consideration it deserves, the journey to becoming a London 2012 volunteer will take longer than a typical application process.

To help you understand what happens when, we have listed some key dates for you to remember. These dates are approximate but we will keep you informed as we go along.

27 July 2010 London 2012’s official Games Maker programme will launch for pre-identified applicants for specialist roles, as well as for special interest groups and members of pre-identified disability organisations. All applicants will be required to complete an application form.

15 September 2010 Applications open to the public for generalist roles and continue for specialist roles.

December 2010 LOCOG will start inviting short-listed applicants to a selection event.

January 2011–February 2012 Selection events will take place and all invited applicants will be interviewed.

October 2011 LOCOG will start sending out offers to successful applicants.

February 2012 Orientation training will begin.

March 2012 Role-specific training will begin.

April 2012 Distribution of uniforms and accreditation passes will begin.

June 2012 Venue training will begin.

Selection events:

From January 2011 we will start inviting successful applicants to a selection event – this will be between February 2011 and early 2012.

Selection events will be your first taste of the excitement surrounding the Games. It will be your chance to find out more about London 2012, and will include a face-to-face, 30-minute interview. We'll want to hear about you, your story and why you want to become a Games Maker. We'll also talk to you about your relevant skills, qualifications and experience.

Selection events are not optional. For us to process your application, it is essential you attend.

The events will be held in London, Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Coventry, Cardiff, Belfast and Weymouth. We will invite you to attend at your nearest selection event venue on a specific date.

Please note that we will be unable to reimburse travel expenses to selection events and accommodation will not be provided.

Assignment and offer:

Following the selection events, we will decide which applicants can be offered a role. We expect to receive a large number of applications and want to give each the time and consideration it deserves.

As a result, we will not begin making offers of Games Maker roles until the end of 2011.

In addition, before making any offer, we must run background and security checks (carried out by the Home Office and other relevant UK authorities as necessary). You will only be eligible to receive an offer if you pass these checks.

If you are offered a Games Maker position and do not accept it, we will not be able to offer an alternative role.

Training:

Once you have been offered and accepted a Games Maker role, you will need to attend a minimum of three training days (approximately 15 hours in total):

Orientation training sessions will start in February 2012.

Role-specific training sessions will start in March 2012.

Venue training sessions will start in June 2012.

The training sessions will provide you with the perfect insight into what being a Games Maker is like. They will help you understand what you can expect and what will be expected from you.

Your journey will really come alive as you meet other Games Makers, see your Games-time venue and learn about the details of your role – boosting your confidence and filling you with enthusiasm to help us deliver a memorable Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012.

There will be a range of dates to choose from, including evenings and weekends, but it is vital you attend all your training sessions.

If you do not fulfill your training commitments you risk losing your position as a Games Maker – and we really won't want to lose you!

Please note that we will be unable to reimburse travel expenses to training and accommodation will not be provided.

Test Events:

We will hold a number of Test Events between May 2011 and May 2012 to make sure everything is in full working order and ready for Games time. Attending a Test Event will be compulsory for specialist volunteers in sports-specific roles, and we may also require some generalist and other specialist volunteers to attend.

There will be an opportunity on the application form to indicate your interest in volunteering at a Test Event, and if you are selected to attend, the role you perform there will be the one you perform at Games time.

Test Events will give you all the tools and information you need to perform at your best during the Games. They are an invaluable opportunity for you to gain experience and a greater understanding of how a large sporting event is staged.

Please note that we will be unable to reimburse travel expenses to Test Events and accommodation will not be provided.

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