Thank you to our BASES volunteers

This week, we are celebrating National Volunteers’ Week. BASES would like to mark the occasion by shining a light and acknowledging the hard work and efforts of the volunteers who give up their time to support the Association and help move forward key projects.

We have contacted a view of our volunteers to give readers an insight on volunteering at BASES. The responses have been split over two articles. Article one is below and article two will be released tomorrow.

Prof John Saxton, Professor of Clinical Exercise Physiology and Head of Department of Sport, Health & Exercise Science, University of Hull.

Your role at BASES: Fellow; Chair of the Scientific Conference Programme Committee (now the BASES Conference Planning Group) since 2017; member of the BASES Accreditation Committee (now the Accreditation Advisory Group) since 2009.

Why you chose to offer your time and expertise to volunteer with BASES: BASES is a very friendly organisation, and membership of committees provides great opportunities to meet people of a similar mindset. This has brought many opportunities for personal development and for helping/encouraging early career researchers to progress their careers.

What you have got out of being a volunteer for BASES: I have met lots of people, participated in a lot of great BASES events and conferences, and I hope that I have played a part in the evolution of the organisation and the maintenance of high professional standards amongst our members.

Savannah Sturridge, BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science student at Birmingham City University

Your role at BASES: Student Representative of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisory Group (EDI AG)

Why you chose to offer your time and expertise to volunteer with BASES: I chose to volunteer with BASES for the opportunity to contribute to positive change within Sport and Exercise Sciences. What was important to me was the opportunity to support others in the discipline, especially those at the early stages of their career. Becoming a member of the BASES EDI AG would help keep EDI at the forefront of dialogue and decision making, something I am passionate about.

What you have got out of being a volunteer for BASES: Through being a volunteer, I am constantly learning from those around me, particularly those in the EDI AG. I am beginning to understand more about BASES, how it supports student members and professional development. Most recently, I have worked alongside others within the EDI AG to plan future projects and contributed to The Sport and Exercise Scientist Summer 2021 on ‘The Staff-Student Relationship: Transitioning into Higher Education’.

Ms Susan Went, an experienced Non-Executive Director, with a long NHS healthcare career as a physiotherapist, healthcare leader and Executive Director

Your role at BASES: Non-Executive Director on the Board, Member of the HR, Remuneration and Appointments Committee, Chair of the Governance Committee

Why you chose to offer your time and expertise to volunteer with BASES: I have worked as a Board Executive for many years as part of my full-time career in Healthcare. When I decided to change my working patterns, and to start work part time on a Consultancy basis, I wanted to develop a portfolio career by bringing some of my Board experience to a NED or Trustee role.

Having worked as a Trustee for four years with another professional membership organisation, I was attracted to the BASES role as it offered some of the same challenges plus the opportunity of experience in a different sector. I was delighted when I was offered the role.

What you have got out of being a volunteer for BASES: I have met some fantastic and very hardworking members of the Board and of BASES Divisions and Committees. It has been a privilege to work alongside them as we develop and deliver a strategy which will help BASES to grow and to make the most of the opportunities for Sport and Exercise sciences

To do that I believe it is vital that we continue to meet the needs of the members and it has been great to meet students and practitioners at some of the face-to-face events in the first few years of my tenure. More recently it has been rewarding to see the team adapt to the challenges of the past year by transitioning to a set of very high calibre events and meetings and to build a sustainable financial footing for BASES.

I have greatly enjoyed contributing to BASES Board as we debate and decide which options will add most value and how to make the most of the resources that we have access to. I have learned a great deal about a different sector, and I believe that experience will stand me in good stead as I look for another NED role; as the longest serving NED on the BASES Board I will have to stand down in November of this year.

I have found each of my Trustee and NED roles rich and rewarding and would encourage others to volunteer for either NED roles or as committee members, or for one of the many other voluntary opportunities for giving back.

The success of BASES relies heavily on members engaging and volunteering across a breadth of activities. As such, the Board wholeheartedly thanks those members who have selflessly contributed their time, energy, and expertise to the Association.

There are various ways you can get involved as a BASES volunteer. Please keep an eye out on the various communication channels for as and when such opportunities arise.