Expectations and experiences of Glasgow 2014 'clyde-sider' applicants

Last year Glasgow hosted the 20^th Commonwealth Games in what was the largest sporting and cultural event ever to be held in Scotland. Approximately 12,500 Games-time volunteers were appointed as clyde-siders to assist with delivery of the event and to provide a positive Games-time experience for spectators. 

This report presents findings from an online baseline survey of clyde-sider volunteer applicants. Data were captured before applicants had been made aware of whether or not they had been selected to become clyde-siders.

The report covers the demographic characteristics of applicants, what motivated them to apply, their volunteering experience, how they found out about the opportunity to volunteer and what impact they expected the Games to have on Glasgow and Scotland. Additional information was captured on the skills and gains that applicants hoped to experience through the Games. Findings are broken down by gender, age and place of residence where relevant.  

This is the first of several reports on clyde-sider volunteers for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. The study is being carried out to explore the attitudes, experiences, actions and intentions of volunteer applicants (for both successful and unsuccessful applicants) before and after the Games.

This, it is hoped, will help to shape future volunteering programmes and improve understanding around how to effectively deliver a volunteering legacy through mega-sporting events.

An appendix detailing the survey questions used in the report is also available.