SOGB is a volunteer-driven organisation (we have 2600 volunteers but only 7 members of staff across the country) and without the support of our dedicated network of volunteers the comprehensive training and competition programme would not take place. Volunteers take on a variety of roles to support the running of the SOGB programme including club committee and development positions. The work of SOGB also involves recruiting new athletes, providing year-round accredited coaching, encouraging and supporting athletes to participate in sport activities. With such a focus on volunteers SOGB recognises that once recruited, every effort needs to be made to assist, develop and retain these individuals through providing regular support and training as well as by rewarding and recognising the contribution they make. Currently our volunteers are provided with basic support through a part-time National Volunteer Manager however, SOGB recognises that more resources need to be deployed to support our volunteers to meet their increasing needs and to effectively grow and develop our work that we do at grassroots level. Without these further resources it will be extremely challenging for SOGB to continue to deliver a quality standard of service that ensures the well-being of our volunteers and ultimately the athletes they support. In order to achieve this goal, a full-time National Volunteer Development Manager must be appointed who will implement the Programme and support clubs in relation to volunteering work by working with the Regional Development Managers. The main purpose of this role is to provide a central coordinating point for volunteers and volunteer management within SOGB, and to direct volunteer efforts into providing productive services for athletes. The Manager will also continually review and re-direct the support SOGB gives to volunteers, to ensure that SOGB prioritises good volunteering practise. By 2011/12 we hope to achieve the following:  120% increase in volunteers  Greater diversity of volunteers – engaging with black and minority ethnicities and including people with learning disabilities  Enhanced communication and provision of support  Improved volunteer training (200 workshops delivered, in excess of 4,000 volunteers trained)  Improved volunteer recognition through introduction of annual Volunteer of the Year Scheme  High Volunteer retention rates (60%)  High levels of volunteer satisfaction (80%)