Sport Ireland is inviting people across Ireland to take part in the first-ever Diversification of the Volunteer Base Survey, a key initiative aimed at strengthening and supporting the future of volunteering in sport.
The survey forms part of a wider review of volunteer training needs, which will help inform the development of a national approach to training designed to support, retain and diversify volunteers. Its findings will shape practical actions to ensure volunteering in sport is more inclusive and reflective of Ireland’s population.
Open to everyone, the survey welcomes input from current volunteers, former volunteers and those who have never volunteered in sport. To ensure accessibility, it is available in 56 languages.
Mary Van Lieshout, Director of Participation, Ethics, Integrity and Research at Sport Ireland, said:
“Volunteers are the backbone of Irish sport. From coaches to committee members, officials to event helpers, they keep clubs running, people active, and communities connected.
“This survey is a first for Irish sport – a sector-wide, evidence-based review of volunteer needs, with a unified plan to act on what we find.
“This national project is an opportunity to understand the experiences of volunteers and non-volunteers from every background so we can build a system that truly reflects Ireland today. We’re proud to be leading it.”
Volunteers play a crucial role across Irish sport, with Sport Ireland research highlighting the scale of this contribution. Hundreds of thousands of people give their time to support sport, including more than 268,000 involved in coaching, most on a voluntary basis.
The Irish Sport Monitor 2024 found that 12% of adults in Ireland volunteer in sport, a figure that has now returned to pre-pandemic levels. However, the data also points to a lack of diversity within the volunteer base, with white Irish adults up to three times more likely to volunteer than those from other ethnic backgrounds.
This work supports Sport Ireland’s Volunteering in Sport Policy, which aims to make volunteering more inclusive, accessible and representative of Ireland’s diverse communities. It also aligns with 2026 being designated the International Year of Volunteers, a United Nations initiative recognising and strengthening the contribution of volunteers globally.
The survey will be promoted across the sector through Sport Ireland, Local Sports Partnerships and National Governing Bodies. It will run until mid-April, with the option to extend if required.
In addition to the survey, a series of targeted focus groups will take place. Those interested in participating can express their interest by emailing consultations@s3solutions.co.uk.
Take the survey here:
https://app.voiceform.com/to/4cVPosigareRuir9
