Games help 'could lead to skills'

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Volunteering at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games could lead to qualifications, the man who led the bid for the event has said.

Derek Casey, the director of the city's successful Games bid, said 15,000 people from across the country were expected to volunteer at the event.

He plans to explore whether qualifications could be given to them where appropriate.

Glasgow beat off competition from Abuja in Nigeria to host the games.

Mr Casey said the skills of the volunteers would vary widely.

He said: "We expect they will come from every background, from unskilled to professional and from throughout the country.

"Some people will join us for several weeks, others for just two or three days, and they will have a huge range of experience and expertise."

Volunteers will play a vital role in the success and spirit of the Games Volunteer Development Scotland

He added that a qualification, recognising skills learned during the Games, would be "a great personal legacy".

Mr Casey said that having spoken to the Scottish Qualifications Authority, the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership (SCQF) and other agencies he wanted to "explore the possibility of qualifications being available for appropriate volunteers".

He said: "It is really important to recognise the contribution of the volunteers, whom we have promised the Commonwealth Games Federation will be knowledgeable, capable and well trained for the Games and for other events beyond 2014."

'Recognise efforts'

Mr Casey was due to speak at Sunday's national seminar of the Scottish Association of Local Sports Councils in Airth, near Falkirk.

SCQF chief executive Alison Ponton said: "I am delighted that those involved in managing the 2014 Commonwealth Games want to give recognition to the efforts of the many thousands of willing volunteers who will help make these Games successful and memorable.

"Recognising the value of an individual's learning, skills and knowledge is what the SCQF is all about and between now and 2014 we and our partners will work towards finding a way to provide tangible on-going benefits to the Games' volunteers."

George Thomson, the chief executive of Volunteer Development Scotland, added: "Volunteers will play a vital role in the success and spirit of the Games and it's right that their quality and skills will be recognised with qualifications, along with memories that will last a lifetime."