Sport has the power to bring people together, but when it comes to volunteering opportunities, are we really creating spaces where everyone can contribute meaningfully? This question sits at the heart of the Volunteering for Inclusion and Empowerment With Sports (VIEWS) project, which recently conducted research to understand what good practice in inclusive volunteering means from the perspectives of those who matter most – people with disabilities themselves.
Hearing from Those Who Know Best
The research gathered insights from 34 participants, with nearly two-thirds identifying as having a disability. This wasn't by accident. Too often, discussions about inclusion happen without disabled people at the table. Half of the respondents were current or former sport volunteers with disabilities, while others included people interested in volunteering and those who support inclusive programs.
Their voices matter because they understand the reality – not just the theory – of what it takes to create truly inclusive volunteering opportunities.
The Building Blocks of Inclusion
When asked to define good practice in their own words, participants painted a clear picture. Half emphasized the critical importance of removing barriers – whether physical, cognitive, or systemic. Nearly as many focused on equal participation and genuine inclusion, regardless of ability.
But perhaps most telling was their emphasis on creating supportive, welcoming environments and ensuring that volunteer roles are meaningful rather than tokenistic. As one theme that emerged strongly showed, volunteers with disabilities want to make real contributions that align with their skills and interests.
Where Everyone Agrees
The research revealed remarkable consensus on what matters most. When presented with specific statements about good practice, participants showed overwhelming agreement across the board – with all themes receiving at least 85% support.
Three principles stood out with near-universal agreement:
Empowerment topped the list, with 97% agreement. Participants strongly believed that volunteers with disabilities should gain confidence, independence, and develop skills that contribute to personal and professional growth. Not a single person disagreed.
Accessibility came second, with 94% agreement on the importance of removing barriers and creating environments where all volunteers can contribute effectively.
Co-design and tailoring also achieved 94% agreement, emphasizing that practices should be developed with people with disabilities and tailored to their needs, preferences, and aspirations.
Beyond the Basics
The research also revealed some nuanced insights. While participants strongly supported leadership opportunities for volunteers with disabilities, this received slightly less enthusiastic agreement than other principles – perhaps reflecting realistic concerns about organizational readiness or systemic barriers that still exist.
Intersectionality – recognizing that people with disabilities may face additional barriers related to gender, age, or background – received strong but not universal support, suggesting this remains an area where awareness could be strengthened.
The Bigger Picture
What emerged from participants' additional comments was a vision of inclusive volunteering that goes far beyond simply accommodating disabilities. They spoke about:
The value of mentorship from people with lived experience
The need for flexible scheduling and role modifications
The importance of continuous improvement based on volunteer feedback
Recognition that everyone has something valuable to contribute, regardless of time commitment
One particularly powerful insight was the emphasis on empathy and viewing volunteers as individuals with unique abilities rather than focussing on limitations.
What This Means for Sport Organizations
The message from this research is clear: inclusive volunteering isn't about charity or filling quotas. It's about recognising that people with disabilities bring valuable skills, perspectives, and enthusiasm to sport organisations – when given genuine opportunities to contribute.
The high level of agreement across all principles suggests that effective inclusive volunteering requires attention to multiple dimensions simultaneously. You can't just focus on accessibility while ignoring empowerment, or emphasize inclusion while offering only tokenistic roles.
Moving Forward
This research provides a roadmap, but it's one that requires ongoing commitment. As participants emphasised, good practice in inclusive volunteering is a dynamic process that requires continuous evaluation, adaptation, and most importantly, ongoing dialogue with disabled volunteers themselves.
The question isn't whether people with disabilities can contribute to sport through volunteering – they already are. The question is whether we're ready to create the conditions where they can truly thrive.
Sport has always been about bringing out the best in people. When it comes to inclusive volunteering, that principle remains the same – we just need to ensure our practices match our values.
Â
