ESF at the Olympics
Image courtesy of ESF-Works.com
A number of people were able to participate in the historic London 2012 Olympics as volunteers and games makers thanks to the ESF Personal Best programme. This pre-employment programme, co-financed by the European Social Fund and the Skills Funding Agency, offered guaranteed interviews to become Olympic Volunteers for all those who signed up to join their City & Guilds Award in Event Volunteering.
The stories of a number of these Olympic volunteers can be found on the ESF-Works website 'ESF at the Olympics’ pages.
One of the lucky volunteers was Richard Ross, who rubbed shoulders with some of the world’s biggest tennis stars at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon, the London 2012 Olympic tennis venue. Richard helped with crowd control, giving visitors directions to courts, answering questions, and when it rained, handing out plastic ponchos.
Richard, who attended the games with a carer, lives in a skills training and housing centre in Sussex for people with disabilities. He joined the Personal Best programme at Sussex Downs College.
Richard Ross: London 2012 Olympic volunteer (ESF-Works website)