Special Olympics Area Chair - Volunteer, Merthyr Tydfil

Lead the growth of Special Olympics in Merthyr Tydfil. Help us build local opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities by connecting volunteers, families, clubs and partners to create inclusive sport in the community.

What difference will you make?

This role will help Special Olympics Cymru Wales grow local opportunities in Merthyr Tydfil for children, young people and adults with intellectual disabilities.

By having a dedicated local volunteer lead, we can build stronger relationships with families, clubs, schools, community groups and local partners, helping us turn interest into real activity. The role will help us create a stronger local foundation for future sessions, events, volunteer recruitment and longer-term club development.

The volunteer in this role will help us to

• strengthen our local presence in Merthyr Tydfil
• build partnerships and community connections
• encourage and support local volunteers
• identify opportunities for new activities and future growth
• promote inclusion, belonging and opportunity for people with intellectual disabilities

The impact goes beyond sport. Special Olympics Cymru Wales helps people build confidence, improve wellbeing, reduce isolation and feel part of their community. By supporting our growth in Merthyr Tydfil, this volunteer will help more people access inclusive opportunities closer to home.

We are looking for someone with at least three years’ professional or substantial voluntary experience in one or more of the following areas

• Governance
• Strategic development and planning
• Strategic mentoring or coaching
• General or operations management
• HR
• Volunteer management
• Health and safety
• Safeguarding

The most important qualities for this role are the ability to build positive relationships, communicate well, think strategically, and help create safe, sustainable opportunities in the local community.

Our ideal volunteer will be

• organised, reliable, and able to follow through on actions
• confident working with a wide range of people, including families, volunteers, schools, clubs, community groups, and local partners
• able to work independently while also contributing as part of a wider team
• committed to inclusion, respect, and a strong safeguarding culture
• motivated to help grow opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities in Merthyr Tydfil

It would be particularly helpful if the volunteer has experience of

• chairing a group, committee, or local initiative
• supporting or managing volunteers
• partnership building or community engagement
• helping develop new services, projects, or local activities
• working with disabled people, young people, families, or community organisations
• promoting good governance, health and safety, and safeguarding practice

You do not need previous experience with Special Olympics Cymru Wales specifically, but you should be able to show relevant transferable experience and a genuine commitment to inclusive sport and community development.

Hybrid

We are looking for a volunteer with at least three years’ professional or substantial voluntary experience in one or more of the following areas

• Governance
• Strategic development and planning
• Strategic mentoring or coaching
• General or operations management
• HR
• Volunteer management
• Health and safety
• Safeguarding

This is a local leadership role, so we are looking for someone who can bring experience, sound judgement, and a practical understanding of how to help develop opportunities in a safe, sustainable, and well-organised way.

Our ideal volunteer will

• Be confident building and maintaining positive relationships with families, volunteers, schools, clubs, community groups, and local partners
• Be organised, reliable, and able to help co-ordinate local activity and follow through on actions
• Be able to think strategically about how Special Olympics Cymru Wales can grow in Merthyr Tydfil over time
• Be comfortable working independently while also contributing as part of a wider team
• Be committed to inclusion, respect, good governance, and a strong safeguarding culture

It would be particularly helpful if the volunteer has experience in one or more of the following

• Chairing a group, committee, or local project
• Supporting or managing volunteers
• Building partnerships within a community or organisation
• Helping develop new services, programmes, or local initiatives
• Working with disabled people, young people, families, or community groups
• Promoting safe working practices, safeguarding, and inclusive environments

You do not need previous experience with Special Olympics specifically, but you should be able to demonstrate relevant experience from work, volunteering, or community leadership that would help you succeed in the role.

Above all, we are looking for someone who is approachable, proactive, dependable, and motivated to help create more inclusive sport opportunities in Merthyr Tydfil.