Volunteer Management

Shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic, Supporters Direct Scotland were selected as a recipient of the first SD Europe Fund, for a project studying the approach to volunteer management in Scottish football. Whilst we had to change the project methodology, and put some activities on indefinite hold, we were able to continue work on this when everything else stopped, and are pleased today to publish the project report.

The report begins with a review of volunteers’ impact on Scottish football and Scotland’s economy, and a theoretical introduction from both a volunteer’s perspective and a football club’s perspective. We then focus on six volunteer management processes in turn, which together set the direction for all activity at a club, show how clubs can support their volunteers, and maintain clear boundaries for volunteer activities – by establishing good practices in these areas a club can create the space for volunteers to make a difference.

The report then presents case studies where Scottish clubs have implemented successful practices that others can learn from.

We would like to thank SD Europe for their funding and support, the many subject matter experts and organisations whose work we have drawn on, and of course the six clubs featured in this report – Aberdeen FC Community Trust, Berwick Rangers FC, Bo’ness United Community FC, Raith Rovers FC, Spartans Community Football Academy, and Stenhousemuir FC.

You can read the project report here, and we will focus on each of the case studies in a series of deep-dive articles throughout 2021.