MyGlasgow News

The 2014 Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow from 23^rd July to 3^rd August 2014.

The University of Glasgow wishes to support the games in a variety of ways, including providing additional leave arrangements for staff who want to volunteer.

Online applications open on 14^th January 2013 on the games website, and are open until the end of February 2013.

This interim policy will operate until final arrangements are confirmed by Court in February 2013. The policy has been agreed by the SMG and the University’s Commonwealth Games committee.

This summarises the policy – for more details, please visit the University HR website.

Background to Volunteering

As of January 2013, the following arrangements are planned.

The greatest demand for volunteers will be during the Games in summer 2014. The organisers are planning for volunteers to work 8 shifts, at a variety of venues and times. There will be a rest day after 6 shifts. The shifts may involve weekend work. There will also be up to 3 days attendance required prior to the Games for accreditation, training and venue familiarisation.

For more current information, please visit http://volunteer.glasgow2014.com/

Please note the online application process opens on the 14^th January 2013 and will close on the 28^th February 2013 – so don’t delay if you are interested in volunteering.

Prior to the Games, the organisers will be looking for “Front Runner” volunteers for 1 or 2 days per week for a number of months to help select, train, organise other volunteers, and for other specialist activities 

Leave Arrangements for University of Glasgow employees directly related to the Commonwealth Games

Volunteers

In recognition of the support for the Commonwealth Games, the University will allow volunteers who provide proof of their official volunteer status up to 4 days additional paid leave, subject to meeting the following requirements:

The member of staff also takes an equal number of paid days leave from their annual entitlement, and this is documented with local management

The leave is arranged with the prior agreement of the line management by end January 2014

Requests will be dealt with on a first-come, first-served basis

Those sufficient numbers of staff are available in all areas to maintain necessary performance, safety, and service standards and performance

Line management has absolute discretion to agree/refuse leave requests associated with Volunteering

Any additional leave requested for volunteers should be met through the normal annual leave entitlement or, exceptionally, through unpaid leave of absence agreed by the relevant manager, subject to the above provisions.

Officials, referees, judges etc.

If the activities are remunerated, the person will be required to take paid leave from their annual leave entitlement, subject to prior local management agreement. In some cases, subject to line management agreement, unpaid leave may be considered.

For unpaid officials etc., subject to providing proof of their unpaid status, and to line management agreement for release, the same leave arrangements for volunteers will apply.

Leave Applications

Staff wishing to apply for volunteer/unpaid official leave outlined above should discuss this with their line manager, and if agreed, then submit a leave request for approval through the HR system where a special Commonwealth Games application will be set up later in 2013. This will allow managers to track the resources released, and if agreed, will credit eligible staff with the appropriate additional leave.

For all other leave applications, including any which exceed the facilities outlined above, the normal HR system application should be used.

Links and more information

On Tuesday 29 January 2013 as part of Sport & Wellbeing Week hosted by Sport & Recreation representatives of Glasgow 2014 will provide a presentation regarding volunteering opportunities and how the University Community may become involved. Details from Sport & Recreation at: www.glasgow.ac.uk/sport/sww13

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First published: 21 January 2013