Youth Social Action and Sport — A view from an #iwill ambassador

As part of the #iwill campaign we caught up with #iwill ambassador Wayne Instrell to ask why he became involved in youth social action.

Why did you get into social action, and volunteering?

The reason I became involved in volunteering was that I wanted to make a difference and have a positive impact on other people’s lives. I wanted to show that anything is possible if you put your mind to it regardless of any adversity that you may have been through. By having the resolve to persevere and see it through you can achieve your goals and be successful.

I wanted to convey these messages to others, so I started coaching the younger pupils at school and around the local area. I’m also mentoring students, talking to them, being available to offer advice, whether it is sports related or about life in general. I think it’s important to just be accessible to others and being of a similar age means they find it easier to open-up and relate to me.

What have you gained from taking part in social action?

First and foremost I’ve gained a lot confidence. Being asked to do speeches at award presentations at my former school and for my old football team means I’ve had to become confident about talking in front of an audience. I’d never have been able to do that before I started my volunteer work.

I’ve also gained a lot of knowledge and experience about working with youngsters who come from different backgrounds and learn in different styles. I found that by working with and helping others that I gained a lot of enjoyment and self-satisfaction, as I was doing something positive and being a role model for others.

I’ve also been able to attend events through the #iwill campaign, and with the Youth Sport Trust as well as taking part in Get Inspired with Jessica Ennis-Hill. Social action, such as volunteering, offers you the opportunity to be a part of things you’d never usually be able to be a part of.

Through volunteering I’ve also been inspired as to my future career. I’d love to do further coaching as I would like to study coaching and sports science at university with a view to becoming a PE teacher or pursuing another sports related career.

Why would you encourage others to become involved in social action?

I would strongly urge and encourage others to get involved in social action, like volunteering, or fundraising etc., as you gain so much from it!

From the enjoyment of knowing you’re making a difference through to the opportunities that open up for you personally, it is so rewarding.

It is great to know that you are having an impact on people’s lives and it doesn’t just have to be around sport, it can be anything that you have a particular passion for that leads to a connection being made.

Like I mentioned before, it is nice to be praised and gain recognition for what you are doing but this shouldn’t be the main reason why you are doing it. It should be purely from your heart, because what you’re doing is your passion, because you enjoy seeing how others gain fulfilment know you’ve had a positive impact on their lives.

Do you feel there is something special about sport that makes it such a good way to connect with people?

I think sport is really special as a means of connecting with people. No matter what your background or ability there is a sport out there for you. There are also so many ways that you can contribute and numerous roles to play at local clubs and groups, whether this is as a player, official, coach or even spectator.

The reason why I think a lot of people connect through sport is that you can refer to sport at any point in your life, it’s never too late to start. Whether you’re at school/university, at work or as a weekend hobby, there will always be an opportunity to engage in sport and recreation.

Even if competing and playing sport is not for you, you can still connect in others like watching on sport on TV or helping at events such as the Olympics and football/rugby world cups. You need volunteers to help run these events and their work is integral to their overall success.

Sport enables you to meet so many people who share a common interest or passion. Through your shared experiences and interests you will meet and make new friends. It’s a great way of learning about the importance of things like respect, hard work and compassion for other people.

I believe sport and social action can play a part in people’s lives no matter who you are. Big or small, fan or player, young or old, it offers so many opportunities to connect with others and be part of something special.

The Sport and Recreation Alliance is a supporter of the #iwill campaign. To find out more about youth social action and volunteering in the sector, click here.

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