Volunteering provides many benefits to us. Life has thrown a few things at me the last couple of years, and I will be honest saying life has been challenging, but I was so glad to be volunteering this last year especially. I know many people will have been through their challenges, worries and I would say keep reading as this is my honest story about volunteering.   

I started volunteering in 2017 with the Scottish Canoe Association as a Regional Officer for Central and thoroughly enjoyed being part of the Coaching and Development Committee. I didn’t know anyone when I moved up to Scotland, and through my paddling and volunteering, I have made lots of lovely friends. I have learnt so much about the organisation and what they were doing. 

A coach suggested joining the board to help me progress, which I thought was a silly idea, but I put in an application, not expecting to hear anything back. I was invited for an interview and was put forward to be a director on the board. I was a bit surprised I had never been on a board before or done much with sport. My background was Outdoor Learning and Environmental Education. 

In my first year, I was a bit apprehensive as there were a lot of older people, particularly males on the board who were very confident in sport governance. I was shy and not able to speak up as much as I wanted. But I quickly realised that they were trying to strengthen the Board by increasing diversity within their membership. I felt welcomed with open arms and have really enjoyed building positive relationships with the team.

I would encourage anyone to apply to be on the board or committees as things will only continue to progress and change if you are a part of the organisation. 

I learnt a lot in my first year by listening more than inputting and would chat to other board members 1:1 rather than in a big group. The board and staff have made me feel very welcome and have helped guide my thoughts and engaged with my questions. Ensuring that everyone has a voice on the Board and committees is central to Equality, Inclusion and Diversity (EDI). It took me a while to work out how to find my voice and communicate my ideas, a lot of the time I had an idea but the group had already moved onto another area. But, in time I found my strategy and my confidence grew. 

I really enjoyed the committee weekends, one at Isle of Cumbrae and Fordell Firs, where we were all able to chat and network with each other but still have fun. This was an excellent opportunity to put a face to a name on an email, and strengthen the relationships with the team. This really helped to build my confidence and helped me feel more settled within the Board environment.

I was given the opportunity to go on an Equality course that sportscotland runs, and I came back with lots of questions and wondered how I could get more involved in this area. This coincided with the board appointing an Equality Representative, and I offered to be that person, everyone agreed. With guidance and steering from the staff team, we formed the Equality group, which I chaired and felt like I had found something I enjoyed and could help steer and guide. Being a female and chairing the Equality Group felt good, especially when the Female Group was formed and realising how important it was to create these groups to help minority groups work together and connect with wider communities within paddling. Other groups have been developing; LGBTQ+, Ethnicity, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Young People and Disability. These have a strong volunteer presence, with groups being chaired by volunteers and the SCA staff to support and see the bigger picture.

I have done two and a half years on the board, but due to COVID-19, I have had to change tack with my employment and have now moved to North Wales to work at the Field Studies Council.  I am delighted that there is a committee for EDI within the Field Studies Council and I felt confident to say I would like to join up, this time it will be part of my job. This opportunity wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t volunteer with the SCA, go on the Equality course and have the experience from the voluntary work I have done this last year within EDI. 

I have really enjoyed my volunteering experience. It has increased my self-confidence and has given me a real sense of purpose, through this last year of otherwise difficult times. I’ve also met, and got to know some really lovely people. I am really pleased that Susie Benson has agreed to take on the work of EDI as the new Equality Champion on the SCA Board of Directors, and wish her all the best with this moving forward. 

If you have read to here, thank you! I hope maybe it has inspired you to commit to diversity within committees/groups you might be involved in, or encouraged you to support someone from a minority population to step forwards to join a group/committee, or given you the confidence to put yourself forwards for a role where you can make a change/difference! 

I wish you all the best and hope to see you on the water…

Liz Cain