Developing graduates through sport-based volunteering: a case study of the coach and volunteer academy

<p dir="ltr">Aim: Volunteering in sport is often recommended to young people to enhance their employability, however there is a lack of empirical evidence that supports the claim sport-based volunteering improves graduate development. Therefore, the aim of the research was three-fold. First to identify if, and how, engagement in a sport-based volunteering programme enhances university students' human and social capital. Second, to understand how this adds to the personal development and employability of students. Third, to inform the organisation and delivery of student volunteering to maximise its impacts.</p><p dir="ltr">Methods: The research utilised a mixed-methods case study design with three discrete studies. Loughborough University was selected as a case study due to the strategic and financial positioning of the Coach and Volunteer Academy (CVA). The first study was a quantitative online survey conducted to measure the associations between sport-based volunteering, general volunteering, and non-volunteering. Second, qualitative interviews were conducted to explore the perceived benefits and costs of volunteering. Both of these studies used Loughborough University students and alumni as the sample. The third study included qualitative observation and interview data with Loughborough University staff involved with the organisation, management, and delivery of the CVA. It aimed to understand their perspectives regarding the purpose and effectiveness of the CVA.</p><p dir="ltr">Results: Study One reported that students and alumni perceived volunteering to be important for their development. However, there were limited associations with sport-based volunteering and the development of human capital (6/25 graduate attributes) and social capital (3/15 aspects of network size, diversity, and mobilisation). The findings had small effect sizes and therefore caution should be taken not to overstate the results. In Study Two, students and alumni discussed a wide range of motivations and perceived benefits of volunteering. These included enjoyment, socialisation, and holistic enrichment, in addition to enhancing employability. However, some volunteering was associated with increased levels of stress and burnout. Study Three found that the dual purpose of the CVA, to benefit both the individual and the wider university, was at times problematic for staff to manage due to conflicting needs. Furthermore, the effectiveness and consistency of the management and delivery of the CVA was also affected by a lack of clarity in management processes and a lack of evidence-based practice. Subsequently, there were inconsistencies in the volunteer experience and graduate development.</p><p dir="ltr">Implications and Conclusion: Volunteering in sport was associated with some development of human and social capital in university students, which was perceived to contribute to increased personal development and enhanced employability. However, the findings were not conclusive and not as positive as staff believed. Overall, students perceived volunteering to have contributed positively to their life through a wide range of benefits including increased confidence. Despite this, there were some costs associated with volunteering. The student's experience and subsequent development was highly individualised, dependent upon the volunteer role, level of commitment, and support received. Non-volunteers believed they had developed similarly to volunteers by overcoming challenges in other aspects of their life, such as travelling.</p><p dir="ltr">A clear purpose, clarity in management processes, better use of empirical data to inform decisions, and upskilling staff would improve the organisation and delivery of the CVA. This would subsequently maximise its impact on graduate development. In particular, staff emphasised the need for students to improve their ability to reflect on their development and articulate their experiences, in order to capitalise on their volunteering. Student experience and development can be strengthened by the provision of a supportive training programme and mentorship, alongside the voluntary role. Future discussions regarding student volunteering need to include more transparency and greater nuance to ensure students are fully informed of the potential benefits, and costs, of volunteering.</p>