Volunteering Stories

ELLIE FRASER

What competition did you volunteer at?

The Commonwealth Games.

What made you want to volunteer?

I really enjoy fencing and was going to be there to watch, so thought I would help.

What skills did you learn from volunteering?

Communicating with a range of different people and making decisions under pressure.

What was your favourite part of volunteering?

Meeting loads of new people and getting more confident. At the beginning of the week I had no clue what I was doing, but by the end I did.

Do you have a specific area that you enjoy volunteering in? And why?

The call room because it’s where I got to interact with the most people. And there was a sofa.

Any tips for other volunteers?

You won’t know what’s going on at the start, so just listen to advice and be willing to learn and also enjoy.

SHERRY YUQING XU

What competition did you volunteer at?

World Championships since 2018, some Senior World Cups and Grand Prix, British Nationals, World Veteran Championships and Tokyo Olympics.

What made you want to volunteer?

I am a big fan girl hahaha.

What skills did you learn from volunteering?

Multi-tasking, walking 30k steps a day, communicating in different languages and sometimes body language.

What was your favourite part of volunteering?

Watching some great fencing and more excitingly seeing the competition from unique aspects. Travelling around and meeting people around the world (and of course having good food together).

Do you have a specific area that you enjoy volunteering in? And why?

Call room and weapon control are the new gyms, you just never stop.

YASMIN BIRCH

What competition did you volunteer at?

Eden Cup 2022.

What made you want to volunteer?

To help with photography.

What was your favourite part of volunteering?

Learning about fencing.

What advice would you give to other volunteers?

Don’t forget your stuff? And be prepared to take photos at any moment.

DUNCAN AND IAN MORRISON

What competitions did you volunteer at?

We first became involved in volunteering in 2011 at the European Senior Fencing Championships held in Sheffield. Although my dad does not fence, he has come to very much enjoy the sport through my own and my brother’s participation.

What did you gain from volunteering?

Volunteering allows us to enjoy a different aspect of fencing from that of being a competitor or fencing parent. We find that volunteering is satisfying, very sociable, and allows us to give a little back to a sport that we both very much enjoy.