WRU Community Volunteer Awards 2024
The WRU Community Volunteer of the Year Awards 2024 will celebrate and recognise Volunteers across our Community game and their achievements in the last twelve months and previous.
Nominations can be made for individuals or clubs who have gone above and beyond through their volunteering efforts in Welsh Community rugby with notable achievements in the last twelve months.
The nomination process will close at 23:59 on 4th March 2024 , and it is currently intended that a WRU Community Volunteer of the Year Awards event will be held on Friday 31st May 2024 (exact event information TBC, and is subject to change at the WRU’s sole discretion).
Categories and criteria
All information for each category (apart from Presidents Award) must be related to any volunteering activity undertaken in Welsh community rugby from 1st July 2023 to date. Details in the nomination may contain details of activities older than twelve months but with notable achievements within the period 1st July 2023 to current.
All nominations validly submitted to the WRU must clearly demonstrate why you believe that your nominee(s) should be recognised as part of the WRU Community Volunteer of the Year Awards 2024. When submitting a nomination, you should take into account the criteria provided for each category and demonstrate where you feel that your nominee(s) meets the key criteria by providing clear examples as part of any nomination that you may submit.
No nominee should have received payment (other than expenses) for their work. The intention of these awards is to recognise volunteers that give up their time freely and for the love of rugby union and their community.
You may also want to nominate an individual in more than one category if they meet the criteria. Whilst this is possible, please note that you will need to submit a separate nomination form for each category where you wish to submit a nomination.
TOP TIPS
We have listed below some top tips to consider when submitting an application:
• Make sure you read the criteria to ensure that you are applying for the right award category.
• Include evidence if possible in any nomination(s) that you submit.
• Keep to the word limit of 250 words and provide answers in bullet point if necessary.
AWARD CATEGORIES can be found below.
How To Enter
• Enter your nomination details in the WRU Community Volunteer of the Year Awards 2024 nomination form, which is available here.
• The winners of the WRU Community Volunteer of the Year Awards 2024 will be selected based on merit by the WRU at its sole discretion.
• Entries will close Midnight 4th March 2024.
• By registering for ,and submitting any entry to, the WRU Community Volunteer of the Year Awards 2024, you confirm that:
– you have read, understood and agree that you will comply with the Awards Terms and Conditions, which are available here, and
– if your nomination is successful in the WRU Community Volunteer of the Year Awards 2024, you and any participant in the Prize will fully comply with the Awards Terms and Conditions and any other specific instructions and terms for the WRU Community Volunteer of the Year Awards 2024 (including but not limited to any specific instructions that are contained within this section of the WRU website).
This award is for an outstanding female Volunteer Community Coach who has significantly contributed to the skill development of the people they coach.
Criteria
Has delivered regular quality coaching sessions, meeting the needs of all participants
Has embedded inclusive practices into their sessions, helping to remove barriers to participation and reduce inequalities in rugby
Has helped participants to develop their skills, build confidence and resilience and develop a positive attitude towards rugby
Has adopted a person centered approach to coaching, taking time to understand their participants needs and goals and helping them to reach their potential
Has been an inspiration and a positive role model
Has invested time and energy in their own development and holds a recognized WRU qualification appropriate to the level at which they coach
This award is for an outstanding male Volunteer Community Coach who has significantly contributed to the skill development of the people they coach.
Criteria
Has delivered regular quality coaching sessions, meeting the needs of all participants
Has embedded inclusive practices into their sessions, helping to remove barriers to participation and reduce inequalities in rugby
Has helped participants to develop their skills, build confidence and resilience and develop a positive attitude towards rugby
Has adopted a person centered approach to coaching, taking time to understand their participants needs and goals and helping them to reach their potential
Has been an inspiration and a positive role model
Has invested time and energy in their own development and holds a recognised WRU qualification appropriate to the level at which they coach
This category can be in receipt of payment for services of coaching and applies to a Coach from Womens premiership teams and below or Male championship team and below.
This award is for an outstanding female Senior Volunteer Community Coach who has significantly contributed to the skill development of the people they coach.
Criteria
Has delivered regular quality coaching sessions, meeting the needs of all participants
Has embedded inclusive practices into their sessions, helping to remove barriers to participation and reduce inequalities in rugby
Has helped participants to develop their skills, build confidence and resilience and develop a positive attitude towards rugby
Has adopted a person centered approach to coaching, taking time to understand their participants needs and goals and helping them to reach their potential
Has been an inspiration and a positive role model
Has invested time and energy in their own development and holds a recognised WRU qualification appropriate to the level at which they coach
This category can be in receipt of payment for services of coaching and applies to a Coach for female premiership team and below or male championship and below.
This award is for an outstanding Male Senior Volunteer Community Coach who has significantly contributed to the skill development of the people they coach.
Criteria
Has delivered regular quality coaching sessions, meeting the needs of all participants
Has embedded inclusive practices into their sessions, helping to remove barriers to participation and reduce inequalities in rugby
Has helped participants to develop their skills, build confidence and resilience and develop a positive attitude towards rugby
Has adopted a person centered approach to coaching, taking time to understand their participants needs and goals and helping them to reach their potential
Has been an inspiration and a positive role model
Has invested time and energy in their own development and holds a recognised WRU qualification appropriate to the level at which they coach
This award is for an outstanding volunteer working in a community club.
Recognised for this award is a person that has positively promoted the values of rugby union within their club, ensured compliance with the rules and regulations, and developed a safe and positive environment for all.
Criteria
Has dedicated a substantial amount of time to their volunteering, enabling rugby to grow safely and positively
Has influenced player welfare initiatives, to ensure the safety of players
Coordinated the delivery of integrity related education programmes
Supported preventative initiatives in relation to match day protocols and positive behaviour
This award is for an outstanding volunteer, who is working in a community club, with responsibility for safeguarding and promoting safe and positive behaviours.
These responsibilities include –
Co-ordinating and maintaining compliance in relation to volunteer recruitment and retention through the DBS process.
First point of contact for players, parents, carers and other volunteers regarding any concerns about any welfare, poor practice or abuse issues.
Point of contact for the Welsh Rugby Union regarding any safeguarding issues.
Responsibility for managing safeguarding issues and reporting to the senior management committee or board.
Criteria
Has dedicated considerable time to volunteering as a CSO, developing a pro-active approach to driving the importance of high standards in safeguarding
Has supported coaches and team managers in setting standards for DBS compliance and safe recruitment of volunteers
Has co-ordinated the delivery of safeguarding training for coaches and other volunteers
Provided leadership around preventative safeguarding initiatives by developing a safe and positive environment in their club.
This award is for an outstanding volunteer aged 25 years or younger working in a community club. This award is for a young person who has invested time in their development as a volunteer and has made a significant impact in their community.
Criteria
Has been a leader for rugby in their community
Has embedded inclusive practices into their volunteering and has helped to removed barriers and reduce inequalities in sport and physical activity
Has adopted a person centered approach to volunteering, taking time to understand peoples needs whilst supporting others
Has been an inspiration and positive role model
Has dedicated a substantial amount of time to their volunteering enabling rugby to grow
This award is for an exceptional fundraiser who has generated significant funds for their club.
This award recognises and awards an individual volunteer who has made an outstanding contribution towards fundraising in their club.
Criteria
Demonstration of outstanding commitment to their unpaid activity and role
Local people actively involved in the project or work
A long lasting benefit to the club in which the work is undertaken
A record of positive results and achievements
The promotion of working together
Long and exceptional commitment to an organisation.
This award is presented to a club who have made a significant impact to the development of rugby in the Community.
Criteria
Demonstrates strong links with the local community
Committed to being an inclusive club and providing opportunities for all
Is well structured with clear plans for the future
Has a clear practice for recruiting, recognising and rewarding volunteers
This award will be made to an outstanding volunteer in a non-coaching or officiating role over the age of 25 years who has made a significant contribution to the development of rugby in their community.
Criteria
Has been a volunteer in their club or community and without them contributing time, rugby would not be the same
Has embedded inclusive practices into their volunteering and the community / club in which they volunteer, helping to remove barriers and inequalities for people to access rugby
Has adopted a person centred approach to volunteering, taking time to understand people’s needs and supporting others.
Has dedicated a substantial amount of time to rugby
This award will be presented to an outstanding individual who has made an exceptional contribution through a lifetime (over 30 years) dedicated to rugby in the community as a volunteer.
Criteria
Has dedicated many years of volunteering and a substantial amount of time to rugby in their community. Without them, their club / rugby in their community would not be the same.
They have been an inspiration and positive role model
They have significantly improved their club and rugby in their community and the individuals they work with through lifelong dedication
They have gone above and beyond of what is required of them.
This award is for an outstanding volunteer match official who undertakes volunteering in a match official capacity for the love of the game. This award would apply to a person who gives their time freely to officiate mini and junior games.
The person should regularly undertake refereeing in Mini and Junior games
The person has been an inspiration and positive role model
The person follows and upholds the values of the game and has a positive impact on player development
This person must hold a recognized WRU Qualification at least level one.
Dysgu WRU is the new online learning and education platform for everyone involved in rugby in Community Clubs. This Award will celebrate an individual who is the Dysgu WRU Learner of the Year!