Olympic Torch Relay, Northallerton, Bedale, Aysgarth Falls & Leyburn - Volunteering Opportunity

We received an email last week that combines two of our real passions: the Olympics, and the Wensleydale area, so we thought we’d share the message with our friends and colleagues who use our website – we’re sure a lot of you will be interested in volunteering to help as the Olympic Torch passes through our part of the world!

Here is the message we were sent, it is reasonably self-explanatory!

As you maybe aware the Olympic Torch Relay is visiting Hambleton and Richmondshire on the morning of the 20^thJune – arriving in Thirsk at approximately 9:00am and travelling through Northallerton, Bedale, Aysgarth Falls, Leyburn before reaching its final destination in the District at Richmond at approximately 1:30pm.

We need to recruit approximately 200 volunteers (in total) to help Steward the route through each town.

The role of a Steward is not to physically control the crowd as you will not have received the training to do that. A Stewards role is simply to:

engage with the crowd

offer advice and information regarding the progress of the Torch

have an eye to crowd safety, e.g. where and where not to stand

encourage them to remain on the pavements

generally, manage them as best you can

if necessary call on Police colleagues where cajoling and advice have not been productive

On the day you will be supported by a team of people from the District Councils and the Police (plus you’ll have a front row position to see the Torch!).

You need to be available to attend a 2 hour briefing session either on 28^th May at 3pm-5pm or 6pm-8pm in Richmond, or 30^th May at 3pm-5pm or 6pm-8pm in Northallerton, and obviously for the majority of the morning of the 20^th June.

If you are interested in volunteering please contact Louise Walton on 01609 767261 or email louise.walton@hambleton.gov.uk or Lisa Wilson on 01609 767149 or email lisa.wilson@hambleton.gov.uk

We look forward to hearing from you.

So, if you’d like to be a part of an historic day for the region, just contact the council for the above.

Further to the above, our local (Richmondshire) council said that around 14 volunteers are required for the Leyburn “stint”:

As I’m sure you’re aware, the Olympic Torch Relay will be visiting Leyburn on Wednesday 20^th June 2012 and we really need some more volunteers (approximately 14 people specifically for Leyburn) to help steward the route through the Market Towns. Please could you pass on the message below throughout your contacts, councils, businesses and networks and ask anyone interested to get in touch with either Louise Walton on 01609 767261 or email louise.walton@hambleton.gov.uk or Lisa Wilson on 01609 767149 or email lisa.wilson@hambleton.gov.uk and let us know if you can help.

Your assistance with this would be greatly appreciated.

One of the websites we setup (and still manage) Race-Calendar.com is all about helping to make running events more accessible, so we’re really pleased that the London Olympics is getting out into communities to help inspire people across Britain!

Leave a comment below if you are looking forward to the Olympic Torch coming to Leyburn and Aysgarth Falls.