YOUNG people between the ages of 16 and 26 from the Midlothian, East Lothian and Edinburgh communities are being invited to volunteer at IRONKIDS Scotland running events.
Organisers of IRONKIDS Scotland, a series of three fun and family-friendly running events for young people aged three to 14 of all abilities in Midlothian, East Lothian and Edinburgh on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 June, are providing opportunities for young volunteers between the ages of 16 and 26 from the local communities to work alongside and learn from the event management teams in event delivery roles.
Volunteering with IRONKIDS Scotland offers young people a great opportunity to learn new skills, boost their CV’s, build volunteer hours and to learn from industry specialists in event management, event media and marketing and sports development. They will also have the added benefit of working alongside IRONKIDS Scotland‘s project co-ordinator, Catriona Morrison MBE, former multi World champion duathlete and multi World Championship medal winning triathlete, at the events.
The volunteer roles available at each venue include:
- Course marshalling: help at race venues to direct athletes as they warm up and as they take part in their runs.
- Registration: help to register young athletes on the day and get them set up for their big race.
- Start line helpers: help athletes get ready for their race and build an exciting atmosphere as they set off.
- Finish line helpers: congratulate runners as they cross the finish line and award medals.
Catriona Morrison, IRONKIDS Scotland‘s project co-ordinator, said: “We are looking for young volunteers to help at each of the race venues. We would love to see both individuals and groups of young people signing up to fulfil the roles. And better still they will only be required for about three hours. Our volunteer roles at IRONKIDS events also include an IRONMAN t-shirt.
“This is not only a great opportunity for you to learn new skills, boost your CV, build volunteer hours and meet new people, it is also a great way to learn what it is like ‘behind the scenes’ at a sporting event. We often take part in races but this is a chance to help run an event for other young people and to learn about roles like registration and course marshalling. A great way to get practical experience in event management and to help others.”
IRONKIDS Scotland, a key part of Scotland’s Year of Young People 2018 celebrations and an exciting addition to the IRONMAN 70.3 Edinburgh triathlon race weekend for 2018, will be staging have-a-go age group runs of between 500m and 2km at Dalkeith Country Park, Dalkeith [from 16:00] on Friday 29 June, Preston Links, Prestonpans [from 11:00] on Saturday 30 June and Holyrood Park, Edinburgh [from 15:00] on Saturday 30 June.
The IRONKIDS Scotland events have a firm focus on participation for all with age group races of between 500m and 2km. Each event will incorporate a strong family element with spectator friendly courses, free live entertainment, activities and sports taster sessions, whilst at the same time inspiring children to lead a healthy and active lifestyle.
On the day, volunteers will join other young volunteers who have already been involved in the co-design of the free family-focused event entertainment, activities and sports taster sessions being laid on.
Fergus White (12) from Ross High School, Tranent, who is taking on the role of assistant commentator at all three IRONKIDS events, said: “Volunteering for IRONKIDS Scotland has given me a lot of amazing opportunities already. I have met new people in the triathlon world, including Graham Coull who commentates all around the country at different events.
“I even got the chance to commentate at the Stirling Triathlon with him to gain experience for the upcoming IRONKIDS events, which was great fun. Getting involved with IRONKIDS has been a great opportunity for me and I think that others would benefit from the volunteer roles being offered at IRONKIDS.”
Each IRONKIDS Scotland event is only £4.00 per person (plus a small booking fee) to enter. Entry includes a keepsake IRONKIDS T-shirt to wear to race in and a Finishers Medal. You can register in advance online (www.ironman.com/edinburgh70.3) and entries will also be available on the day (credit/debit card only).
The IRONKIDS Scotland series of have a go running events are the newest addition to the hugely popular IRONKIDS global series of children’s events, staged alongside the legendary IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon events, with 50,000 young people across the world taking part every year.
ENDS
Media contact for IRONKIDS Scotland:
Paddy Cuthbert | Littlehouse Media | E: paddy@littlehousemedia.co.uk |
M: +44 (0)7913 951717
Image attached – Please credit Huw Fairclough
Notes to editors:
For more information on volunteering for IRONKIDS Scotland, as part of The Year of Young People 2018, and to sign up please e-mail ironkidsedinburgh@gmail.com; or go to http://bit.ly/IRONKIDSscotlandVolunteers.
Registration for IRONKIDS Scotland is open. To enter IRONKIDS Scotland – Midlothian, East Lothian or Edinburgh go to http://bit.ly/IRONKIDSscotland.
IRONMAN 70.3 Edinburgh, organisers of IRONKIDS Scotland, are especially keen to make the events as accessible and inclusive as possible to young people aged three to 14 of all abilities living in the Edinburgh, East Lothian and Midlothian communities. Registration is £4.00 (plus eight per cent Active fee) per person with the aim of encouraging at least 1,000 young people to sign up at each venue and enjoy the running, the competition and the camaraderie with their friends, as well as the family entertainment and sports taster sessions that will be laid on. Each child who takes part will also receive an IRONKIDS T-shirt to race in and an IRONKIDS medal once they cross the finish line under the iconic IRONMAN finish arch.
About Year of Young People 2018
- Acknowledged as a global first, YoYP 2018 is a part of the Scottish Government’s themed-year programme which focuses on celebrating Scotland’s greatest assets.
- A year-long programme of events and festivals are taking place across the whole of the country for all ages to enjoy, led by EventScotland part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate. More information at www.visitscotland.com/yoyp2018
- IRONKIDS Scotland is supported by the Year of Young People 2018 Event Fund, managed by EventScotland, part of the VisitScotland Events Directorate. EventScotland is working with the events and festivals sector to develop an exciting portfolio of Year of Young People 2018 public-facing events which provide opportunities for young people to express themselves through a wide range of activity.
- Local authorities, schools, youth groups and organisations are running their own YoYP 2018 activity. Search #YOYP2018 on Twitter for the latest news.
- Young people co-designed the Year. A group of young leaders, Communic18, lead on all key decision making. More than 500 ambassadors based across every local authority are championing activity.
- The Year is delivered in partnership between the Scottish Government, VisitScotland and EventScotland – part of the VisitScotland Events Directorate, Young Scot, Scottish Youth Parliament, Children in Scotland, YouthLink Scotland and Creative Scotland.
- More information can be found at http://yoyp2018.scot/, searching @YOYP2018 #YOYP2018 on Twitter or by emailing yoyp2018@gov.scot
About IRONMAN 70.3 Edinburgh
The iconic IRONMAN Series of events, among the world’s most challenging endurance race series, is recognised as the largest participation sports platform in the world. Beginning in 1978 as a single race, IRONMAN has grown to become a global sensation with more than 200 events across 50 countries. In 2017 IRONMAN 70.3 Edinburgh, a middle distance triathlon, was the first IRONMAN-branded event to be staged in Scotland. 1625 athletes (80 per cent men and 20 per cent women) from 31 countries registered to take part and the winner crossed the finish line in 3 hours 55 minutes and 21 seconds.
IRONMAN 70.3 Edinburgh will be staged on Sunday 01 July 2018. It begins with a 1.2 mile swim at Preston Links before athletes head eastwards from Cockenzie on a 56 mile one loop bike course, heading inland through rolling arable farmland via Haddington, Pencaitland and onto East Saltoun. From here, an out and back undulating loop incorporates the historic and beautiful estate village of Gifford, which entails the most technical part of the course on a route that hugs the hills of the Lammermuirs. After transitioning, athletes are lead around a beautiful multi-lap, 13.1 mile run within Holyrood Park before crossing the finish line.
About IRONMAN
A Wanda Sports Holdings company, IRONMAN operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock n’ Roll Marathon Series®, Iron Girl®, IRONKIDS®, International Triathlon Union World Triathlon Series races, road cycling events including the UCI Velothon® Series, mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic®, premier marathons including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, and other multisport races. IRONMAN’s events, together with all other Wanda Sports Holdings events, provide more than a million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. The iconic IRONMAN® Series of events is considered the largest participation sports platform in the world. Since the inception of the IRONMAN® brand in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing finish lines at the world’s most challenging endurance races. Beginning as a single race, IRONMAN has grown to become a global sensation with more than 200 events across 50 countries. For more information, visit www.ironman.com.
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