Event Makers to act as ambassadors for the local area
Do you want to get involved in volunteering at The 149th Open, learn new skills with like-minded individuals, and give a warm welcome to Kent? Key partners have launched Event Makers, an exciting new programme to promote and coordinate volunteering opportunities as The Open returns to Royal St George's, in Sandwich, this July.
This follows The R&A’s recent announcement that The 149th Open will go ahead this year. The R&A is continuing to plan for a full-scale championship but also has robust plans in place for a reduced capacity or behind closed doors model. The Event Makers programme follows the success of the 2012 Olympic Games Makers and the Welcome Ambassador Programme for The 148th Open at Royal Portrush in 2019. The Event Makers website showcases a whole host of ways for local people to get involved at www.eventmakerskent.co.uk.
The Event Makers website is inviting prospective volunteers to come forward and support the local area by acting as its ambassadors during The Open. You will play a key role in welcoming people to Kent and White Cliffs Country and ensure that they have an unforgettable visitor experience.
The Event Makers programme will provide you with a range of free training opportunities in order to help develop your strengths and support you in carrying out your volunteer role. The training, provided by Dover Technical College, will also lead to a Level 2 qualification in volunteering, which covers safety, first aid awareness and crowd management.
The 149th Open will take place from 11-18 July 2021. Volunteers will be positioned at transport hubs and other key locations in the vicinity of Royal St George’s Golf Club to assist with wayfinding, as well as providing useful information about The Open, the local area, and how visitors can make the most of their stay both on and off the course.
The Event Makers programme is a collaboration between Sporting Events UK (based in Canterbury), Dover District Council and Dover Technical College, supported by Kent County Council (KCC) and The R&A.
Cllr Nigel Collor, Dover District Council lead Cabinet Member for The Open, said: “We’re delighted to be part of this innovative project, supporting local volunteering, and helping to welcome visitors and support events in the area. Well informed and happy visitors are likely to stay longer and revisit, adding to the local economy. It’s great news this programme is up and running ahead of The 149th Open.”
Mike Hill, KCC’s Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services, said: “Kent County Council has a long and successful track record in supporting and encouraging volunteering activities in local communities and is proud to support this initiative.
“It is a fantastic opportunity for people to learn new skills and make visitors’ experience to The 149th Open and to Kent something they remember fondly for many years to come.”
Barry Hopkins, Director, Sporting Events UK, said: “We believe in delivering great events for everyone and fundamental to this is the volunteers who make these events happen. We deliver a large number of events in Kent and are looking forward to creating a volunteering legacy for sporting events in the area. In addition, we welcome the opportunity to provide visitors to The 149th Open the very best experience of both the Championship and the local area.”
Paul Owen, Principal, Dover Technical College, said: “Dover Technical College is pleased to be working with our local partners on this project and we’re particularly excited about the legacy that the volunteering programme will have for Kent long after the success of The 149th Open in Sandwich; bringing communities together with a shared pride in all of the experiences our beautiful county has to offer.
Posted on 15 February 2021