A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners. In the season premiere episode, the Meet the Mancunian podcast talks to Vicky McKinlay, Volunteer, Blackburn Harriers Athletics Club about her passion for supporting sports in the community. As a volunteer, Vicky is a coach, an official and a joint welfare official working with children in the age group 8-11 years in sports hall and competitions. She shares her journey into supporting sports in the community, challenges, and the impact she has made. The episode explores the importance of volunteering, maintaining diverse sports activities for youth, and ensuring fairness and empathy in officiating. Tune in to be inspired and learn how you can contribute to your community. In Vicky’s own words,” I love being part of the community. I love learning from other people. I like how everyone's a volunteer. It's a bit of a different feel than when you're in paid employment. Everyone wants to be there.”   #volunteering #GM #manchester #community #sports#SocialImpact #NonProfit Hosted by Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe (https://www.instagram.com/meetthemancunian/).    Did you know:  It's Volunteers Week in the UK from 3-9 June. The focus is on celebrating the amazing contributions volunteers make to communities across the UK. Volunteering helps you create new skills and experiences and boosts your confidence. It also makes you feel good and improves your wellbeing.   Key resources: Blackburn Harriers Athletics Club Volunteering opportunities in Manchester Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode & transcript: (01:20) Introduction to Vicky McInlay and Her Passion for Community Sports (01:57) Discovering a Passion for Sports Through Family (03:01) Volunteering Journey at Blackburn Harriers Athletics Club (04:57) The Variety of Roles and Their Impact (06:54) Challenges Faced in Supporting Athletes and Volunteering (10:23) Making a Positive Impact in Athletics and Community (15:09) Busting Myths About Sports and Volunteering (18:59 )Advice for Starting a Community Sports Movement (23:39) Reflecting on Personal Growth and Insights Listen to the episode and read the transcript on www.meetthemancunian.co.uk