UCLanSport has teamed up with the University's Centre for Volunteering and Community Leadership (CVCL) to help Russian sports volunteer representatives prepare for the FIFA World Cup 2018.The CVCL, in partnership with UCLanSport, played a key role in developing the volunteer programme for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and are now using that expertise to advise the World Cup volunteer organisers on how to develop a volunteer programme ahead of the 2018 tournament.
Dr Adrian Ibbetson, Jackie Day and Amy Whitehead from The School of Sport, Tourism and The Outdoors introduced the Russian visitors to sports students who've taken part in volunteering projects in the UK, Zambia and Russia.
They also visited The Myerscough College Football Academy to meet staff and students from the football studies programme, discuss the role of volunteers within the Football Academy and Sport England Volunteering and consider possible collaboration.
Dr Alethea Melling MBE, Director of the Centre for Volunteering and Community Leadership at UCLan, said: “We are very pleased to welcome our guests from Russia who were very impressed with the volunteer management systems within the Centre and said they are looking forward to collaborating on exchange projects in the near future.
"Back in 2012 UCLan was at the heart of an innovative programme to set up volunteer centres in support of the Sochi Winter Olympics 2014 so we have a lot of experience in this area that we can share to help ensure the 2018 FIFA World Cup volunteer programme is a success."
The Russian party were in the UK to learn more about the country's football infrastructure and sports volunteering projects, as well as to meet representatives from the organising committee of Olympic volunteers for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The delegation was made up of volunteer corporation heads from different regions of Russia and representatives from Moscow City Government and Rostovskaya obl Government.
