Last week saw England Lacrosse celebrate Volunteers’ Week, shining a spotlight on our wonderful volunteers and highlighting what a brilliant job they’ve done, and continue to do, keeping clubs and teams going throughout the most difficult of years.
The official theme for this year’s Volunteers’ Week was “a time to say thanks” aimed at recognising the contribution of communities during the coronavirus pandemic, and we aimed to highlight just a handful of our hundreds of volunteers throughout the week.
We invited the lacrosse community to nominate volunteers who have been especially exceptional over the past year since the start of the coronavirus pandemic and you didn’t let us down!
Featured Volunteers
Sarah Thomas - Vice-Chair at Cheltenham Lacrosse Club
Sarah has been an absolute rock at Cheltenham Lacrosse Club over the past year, taking on a lot of activities and workload that many people do not usually see or appreciate fully.
As a committee member, Sarah has ensured Cheltenham’s teams have the relevant PPE they need to keep safe while playing lacrosse.
She has also played her part on the field by stepping into goal when needed and is someone everyone in the club feels comfortable to talk to.
As a fantastic committee member, a great player and an even better friend everyone at Cheltenham, Sarah absolutely deserves this little bit of recognition.
Chris White - Founder at Nuneaton Lacrosse Club
Chris has been involved in lacrosse in the Midlands for a number of years now but his work founding, and subsequently running, Nuneaton Lacrosse Club three years ago is probably what he is best known for.
Starting a club is no mean feat but Chris managed it by starting small, initially getting a few people together for a throw around, before then expanding to include the two men’s and one women’s teams that there are today.
Excitingly, Nuneaton recently found their own ground too and the work Chris does to (as people in the Midlands say) “get the game on” make him absolutely worthwhile of some recognition this Volunteers’ Week.
Alison Dunn - Coach/Manager/Everything at Oxton Lacrosse Club
With the coronavirus pandemic halting the playing of lacrosse for large parts of 2020/early 2021, it might not necessarily have been the busiest year for Alison in terms of lacrosse.
However, Oxton Lacrosse Club felt that during this year’s Volunteers’ Week was the right time to recognise and acknowledge Alison’s work after more than three decades in the sport.
As well as being a coach, a manager, and whatever other roles she can get her hands on at Oxton Lacrosse Club, Alison has also coached for the North of England at both junior and senior level and has sat on a number of regional and national committees over the years.
Oxton Lacrosse Club and, more generally, lacrosse in the north simply would not be the same without Alison’s work, effort, dedication, and passion over the last 30 years!
Vicky Fathers - Chair at W4 Lacrosse Club
It is an unfortunate fact that without Vicky and her hard-work and dedication for the cause, it is unlikely W4 Lacrosse Club would have continued throughout the last year.
A new venue, more coaches, more athletes, and huge heaps of enthusiasm were all required to keep the club afloat during the coronavirus pandemic and Vicky stepped up to become one of these people who makes things happen to keep kids in sport.
Vicky plays a vital role in the local community and it is only fitting during Volunteers’ Week that wee recognise her work and thank her for everything she does!
Thank-you to every single volunteer working hard and dedicating their free time to supporting lacrosse in England; this is for all of you!