Volunteering Opportunities: Join A Winning Team
Redruth RFC has gone from strength to strength year on year, with sucess on the pitch fuelled by the efforts of a veritable army of volunteers who lend their time, ideas, skills and expertise to the club that they love. Ex-players, mini-junior parents, friends and fans fill a diverse selection of roles from scorekeepers to stewards, from fundraisers to physios and from ball boys to bar staff.
We Need You!
We’re always looking for new recruits, though: either to carry on or bolster valuable existing roles, or to help get exciting new projects off the ground. Whatever your age, sex or skills, Redruth RFC has need of your talents! No matter how much time you choose to spare and how often you can spare it, every effort is appreciated as part of the club’s ambition of bringing entertaining and enjoyable rugby to the town and to the wider Cornish rugby community.
What’s In It For You?
Below is a list of the opportunities and roles that Redruth RFC is currently recruiting for. As well as the benefits and acquired skills that each individual role brings, these invaluable opportunities also come with building confidence, working as part of a team and a great sense of personal and collective achievement – all as standard! If there is no opportunity advertised which matches your skills, or you have a specific idea of how you can assist the club, feel free to contact our club secretary Roger Watson at with your suggestions.
| Camcorder operators | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Media | Start Date | Immediately |
| Skills Required | Steady hands | ||
| Skills Acquired | Experience of filming sports events and interviews | ||
| Description | In order for the output on the RugbyReds Youtube channel to be engaging, a certain amount of match footage (mainly tries and personal highlights for interviewees) needs capturing on match days. As a result, Redruth RFC is looking for anyone with a camcorder (and a tripod, where possible) to volunteer to film as many games as they can commit to. Means to transfer videos to a PC can be supplied if necessary, and basic training on following the action will also be supplied. We're also looking for someone to do the filming for the Player Profile interviews on a Tuesday evening. Again, a camcorder is necessary and a tripod is highly recommendable. |
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| Benefits | Full credit for the material is given in the video's credits | ||
| Commitment | Whichever matches you are able to attend! | ||
| Contact | Contact Ross at info@sportbuoy.com for more information. | ||
| Content authors | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Media | Start Date | Immediately |
| Skills Required | Aptitude for creative writing and/or journalistic reporting; ability to work to deadlines. | ||
| Skills Acquired | Experience of publishing to deadlines; working as part of a team; researching subject matter | ||
| Description | The '08/'09 season saw Redruth RFC offer its match programme free to all paying entrants, which dramatically increased its readership to over 15,000 copies across the season. As well as increasing circulation, a great deal of effort went into providing a much better quality of content as well, and we aim to continue these efforts for the next season. In order to fulfil that aim, we are looking for volunteers to join our programme team. As part of a drive to increase our on-line sponsorship takings, we are also looking to replicate the success of David Penberthy's weekly column by committing to a extra series of consistent weekly columns which would be attractive options for sponsors to associate their brands with. Prime candidates for such a treatment include the opposition preview currently found in the match programme, and a weekend round-up. This initiative is another opportunity for volunteers to get their teeth into. |
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| Commitment | Whatever free time you can commit to. Mostly involves working from home. Requires meeting set deadlines. | ||
| Contact | Contact Ross at info@sportbuoy.com for more information. | ||
| Graphic designers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Marketing/Sales & Website | Start Date | Immediately |
| Skills Required | Artistic creativity and experience of image-editing software. | ||
| Skills Acquired | Experience of delivering high-profile projects; working as part of a team to achieve marketing goals; more material for your portfolio. | ||
| Description | Redruth RFC has recently stepped up its marketing campaigns on a number of fronts, including matchday advertising posters in local retail outlets and pubs, an much-expanded match programme and a wider range of online services. As a result, the club is looking for more assistance with the design elements involved in these and future endeavours. | ||
| Commitment | Whatever free time you can commit to. Mostly involves working from home. | ||
| Contact | Contact Ross at info@sportbuoy.com for more information. | ||
| Ground-keepers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Grounds | Start Date | Immediately |
| Skills Required | Hands-on, practical nature. | ||
| Skills Acquired | Experience in ground-keeping and lawn maintenance | ||
| Description | Maintaining a quality playing surface doesn't happen on its own: Redruth RFC is always looking for volunteers to assist the grounds staff in ensuring that the Recreation Ground continues to fulfil the high standards expected of playing surfaces for top-class rugby. | ||
| Commitment | Every Wednesday. | ||
| Contact | Contact Alan Nettle on alannettle@talktalk.net for more information. | ||
| Interviewer | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Media | Start Date | Immediately |
| Skills Required | Clear voice, basic knowledge of rugby, ability to compose interesting questions. | ||
| Skills Acquired | Experience of interviewing; working as part of a media team; working to tight deadlines | ||
| Description | 2008 saw the launch of Redruth RFC's Player Profiles – video interviews with players and coaches carried out across the season to ensure up-to-date responses relevant to current team circumstances, in stark contrast to most other teams' pre-season interviews dragged out across the year. The content is then syndicated to the match programme and to the RugbyReds channel on YouTube in an effort to increase the affinity of current fans to the players, to increase exposure for sponsorship opportunities, to create a new channel for advertising news and merchandise and to attract new fans. The endeavour has exceeded initial expectations, with videos making the weekly Top 20 UK YouTube Reporters list and with more than 7,000 views in the last 6 months. Redruth RFC is now looking for a new interviewer to join the media team, representing a great opportunity to gain valuable and hard-to-find experience in presenting and journalism. The interviewer will need to plan their questions in advance, carry out the interview mid-week before or after the player's training session, and write up the transcript ready for the programme printers by the next day. |
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| Benefits | Full credit for the interviewer is given on the videos, website and programme. | ||
| Testimonials | "Interviewing the players is a really rewarding experience! They're all a fantastic bunch of blokes: really approachable and surprisingly comfortable in front of the camera. It's a great way of getting to know the guys we support week in, week out on the pitch" - Ross, Interviewer | ||
| Commitment | Every Tuesday evening for the interview. Deadline for programme text: Wednesday lunchtime. | ||
| Contact | Contact Ross at info@sportbuoy.com for more information. | ||
| Matchday Sales | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Marketing/Sales | Start Date | Immediately |
| Skills Required | Bright, cheery personality. | ||
| Skills Acquired | Confidence in approaching people, conversation and selling. Increased profile with supporters and sponsors. Team skills as part of a successful marketing group. | ||
| Description | Help is currently being sought in selling tickets for the club's flagship competition - the Accumulator Draw - to the general public on matchdays throughout the season. The job is immediately rewarding: the prceeds from the draw go straight into the coffers of the Redruth Colts team. Tickets are sold by the ground gates, in the main bar and in the sponsors areas before the game. | ||
| Testimonials | "I would like to say how rewarding and worthwhile a job it is: it is a great opportunity to be able to help the Club in directly raising much needed funds. I also get to meet and speak with our supporters and sponsors as well as visiting fans." - 'Accumulator' Kate | ||
| Commitment | Every matchday, from gate opening until kick-off (usually 12:30-3pm) | ||
| Contact | Contact Kate Philips at kate@thedaviespartnership.co.uk for more information, or phone 01872 555924 (work 9am to 5.30pm) (home 01209 821540 after 6pm) |
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| Reserve Announcer | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Marketing/Sales | Start Date | Immediately |
| Skills Required | Bright, cheery personality; love of music; clear speaking voice. Basic knowledge of rugby preferable. | ||
| Skills Acquired | Ability to work on your own initiative and as part of a number of teams; presenting skills and creation of marketing messages. | ||
| Description | The announcer is one of the most important back-room roles at the club on matchdays. Much more than just playing music, the announcer is the club's principle public information channel: he/she keeps people aware of events both on and off the pitch before during and after the game. As a result, the announcer liaises with the bar manager, shop manager and members of the Executive, Sponsorship and Match & Ground Committees prior to the match to find out what messages need delivering over the course of the day. The announcer sets up and tests the PA system a couple of hours prior to the game, and starts their shift at the PA an hour before kick-off. They communicate with the stewards regarding the timing of the team entry music, and with stewards, score-keepers and coaching staff regarding points scorers and substitutions. After the match, the announcer then interviews the receipient of the Man of the Match Award. Redruth RFC is looking for someone to fill in for our regular announcer whenever necessary, with the possibility of taking on the role long term. |
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| Benefits | A free hot drink at half time! | ||
| Commitment | Occasional matchdays | ||
| Contact | Contact Alan Nettle on alannettle@talktalk.net for more information. | ||
| Social Media Administrator | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Media | Start Date | Immediately |
| Skills Required | Good social skills. | ||
| Skills Acquired | Ability to harness the power of social networking sites for media and marketing purposes, and to assist others in doing the same. Working as part of a team to manage an organisation's image. | ||
| Description | Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Flickr, Digg: these sites and many more are now firmly part of the lives of millions and are critical to the success of individuals, organisations and campaigns. Redruth Rugby is looking for someone to help manage the club's profile across all the various social media networks. The Social Media Administrator will work in concert with traditional media and website teams in order to boost online followings on Facebook etc, keep the profiles fresh and engaging, and find ways of delivering stimulating content through each of the new channels (YouTube vids on Facebook, photo competition groups on Flickr, etc). The role will also include helping players to increase the followings of their own profiles more, with the goal of enabling them to be able to leverage more sponsorship for themselves and the club and to widen their marketing appeal to a wider range of local and national businesses. No previous experience is necessary: all that's required is common sense and a willingness to learn! The skills learnt from this are invaluable: more and more businesses are becoming aware of the importance and benefits of online reputation management, with few people being able to demonstrate experience in the field, and there are also many ways of converting social media popularity into cold, hard cash... |
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| Commitment | Very flexible; mostly done from home via the Internet. | ||
| Contact | If you're interested, contact Ross at info@sportbuoy.com for more details. | ||
| Sponsorship committee members | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Sponsorship | Start Date | Immediately |
| Skills Required | Ideas and motivation. Existing business contacts an added bonus! | ||
| Skills Acquired | Experience of working with an active, dedicated team; making sales; attending to customers requirements; networking with local business leaders. | ||
| Description | Funding a semi-professional rugby team is far from cheap, but Redruth RFC has a highly successful sponsorship team, garnering the financial support of around 200 local businesses and individuals. We're always looking for new recruits to join the team to help with generating new business partnerships, deliver new sponsorship opportunities and to help our matchday packages run smoothly and to the expectations of our customers. | ||
| Testimonials | "Everyone loves the underdog and there is a tremendous feeling of achievement in helping a club like ours which has such limited financial support. The freedom to use one's judgement in working on ways to promote the club is also a great plus point. Anyone, who is considering enrolling as a volunteer, I would say 'Go for it!': it really is the most rewarding thing I have ever done." - Jeff Knuckey, Commercial Manager | ||
| Commitment | Monthly meetings, and various roles every matchday from 12-3pm | ||
| Contact | Contact Jeff Knuckey on 01736 850039, or email him at w.knuckey@btinternet.com | ||
| Stewards | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Grounds | Start Date | Immediately |
| Skills Required | Practical, positive and organised individuals | ||
| Skills Acquired | Confidence in dealing with people, teamwork skills | ||
| Description | Volunteers are required for various matchday stewarding roles: gate attendants, parking assistants and corporate hospitality doormen. All roles involve working as part of a friendly team, helping to deliver the great matchday experince that Redruth RFC offers. | ||
| Commitment | Every matchday, from half an hour before gate opening until kick-off (usually 12:00-3pm). Gate attendants stay on duty until 10 minutes after kick-off. | ||
| Contact | Contact Alan Nettle on alannettle@talktalk.net for more information. | ||
| Web programmers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Website | Start Date | Immediately |
| Skills Required | Working knowledge of HTML, CSS and image-editing software. Some experience of ASP.net or PHP and MYSQL preferable but not mandatory. | ||
| Skills Acquired | Obvious experience of contributing to the on-line presence of a notable sporting organisation. Ability to work as part of a dynamic web development team. | ||
| Description | Redruth RFC's website is a substantial endeavour, jam-packed with stats, photo galleries, sponsor data, forums and news feeds. We are constantly trying to improve on the experience provided by it, and whatever help can be offered with this task is greatly appreciated. On top of that, we have a number of top-secret projects being worked on behind the scenes, from management tools to new media opportunities. The new RedsText Score Update Service is an example of the kind of innovation currently being concocted by Redruth's web team. Anyone volunteering with PHP and MYSQL skills could make an instant contribution to some of the most exciting innovations in National League Rugby. |
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| Testimonials | "Working behind the scenes with Redruth RFC's online operations helped me refine my basic programming skills and demonstrated real-world experience of delivering solutions on my CV. This in turn opened more doors, and I secured a new job at a high-flying local technology company directly off the back of my involvement with the club" - Ross, Programmer | ||
| Commitment | Whatever free time you can commit to. Mostly involves working from home. | ||
| Contact | Contact Ross at info@sportbuoy.com for more information. | ||