MSA Press Release/Volunteers In Motorsport

[Mark Mitchell]

MSA launches training and recruitment initiative:
Volunteers in Motorsport


The Motor Sports Association has unveiled details of a National Motorsport Training Plan – an ambitious five-year programme to increase significantly the numbers of volunteer officials in both two- and four-wheeled motor sport.

With partnership funding of £150,000 from the government's Motorsport Development Board and match funding from the MSA's Motor Sports Training Trust, Volunteers in Motorsport represents the first ever centrally co-ordinated activity to address the issues of recruitment, retention, training and development among the essential motor sport volunteer community.

There are currently over 9,000 marshals and a further 3,500 licensed officials registered with the MSA, but in the last four years the number of active marshals has dropped by over 10%. In motor cycling the decline is even sharper, showing falls of around 19%.

In creating Volunteers in Motorsport, the MSA has joined forces with its two-wheeled equivalent the Auto Cycle Union (ACU). This was critical in securing government funding and essential to the success of the campaign.

The MSA has always funded an extensive training programme, reaching some 5,000 people a year through seminars and training courses organised by MSA-recognised clubs and led by 120 MSA-licensed instructors. However, there has never been such a national drive to attract new blood.

Volunteers in Motorsport will cover four key areas: a recruitment campaign to increase numbers across the sport; a retention strategy to recognise experience, increase motivation and reduce further decline; a national programme to provide relevant, structured and professional training that is accessible to all; and a framework for schemes that recognise personal development and simplify the process of cross-discipline participation. Running parallel to this, the MSA will be looking at marshals' welfare, such as the provision of better facilities, in order to improve the environment for volunteers.

Volunteers in Motorsport, to be launched officially at the Autosport International Show in January, will be implemented by Sue Sanders-Peppitt, who is also responsible for all aspects of spectator safety on Wales Rally GB. It will be operated in conjunction with Allan Dean-Lewis, Head of External Affairs at the MSA, who also co-ordinates the FIA Institute's Safety Training Working Group.

"Everyone knows how important volunteers are to motor sport," says Colin Hilton, Chief Executive of the MSA. "We have had a problem with declining numbers for as long as I can remember, but the response has traditionally been fragmented between clubs and ourselves. We now have an opportunity, thanks not only to government funding but also to the Motor Sport Training Trust, to create a co-ordinated, national approach to this serious issue."

"We do need to recruit new blood into the sport," agrees Sanders-Peppitt. "But the people we already have are essential to the ongoing viability of the sport and are very important to us, so we also need to make sure we can retain them. If we consider that 87% of marshals are male and 99% are white, we can clearly see that our volunteers are not representative of wider society and we must take positive measures to address the issue. I’m really pleased to have the chance to make a difference to something this vital. We will be involving many people from all disciplines and we would welcome everyone’s views and comments."

Release MSA05-042: 8 December 2005


Issued on behalf of the Motor Sports Association by Fingal
For further information please contact Ben Taylor
Telephone: 020 7384 8725 Mobile: 07866 449940
E-mail: msapressoffice@mpamedia.co.uk

[Piglet]

I really hope this has the desired effect. No doubt this thread will become full of negative comments but I personally am glad to see this and wish it every success.

[ascarmarshal]

I hope it works. I did notice that race and gender are brought up in the last paragraph and the need to address the white male dominated marshalling force. As long as a person can do the job, who cares what race or gender they are.

[Kitten Kat]

I'm pleased that the MSA have now recognised there is a problem, and have put a plan together. Looking forward to seeing the outcome and hope it has the desire effect. As we need more marshals and we as marshals need to stop being so negative about the current situation, and remember why we all do it! I know why I do it... because I am passionate about motorsport. Can you all remember why you started marshalling?

[Woolley]

Originally Posted by ascarmarshal

I hope it works. I did notice that race and gender are brought up in the last paragraph and the need to address the white male dominated marshalling force. As long as a person can do the job, who cares what race or gender they are.

Yes, I did wonder about that bit, which I suspect has more to do with funding. I don't care who turns up, they're very welcome on my post. In fact, my experience of marshals is such that if the black lesbian flower-arranging club turns up at the same time as the as the rugby drinking club, they'd all work the same post quite happily!

The point is, most of the things we've talked about seem to be covered, so perhaps the much discussed survey has had its use. What we now need is a representative from the MSA getting out on the bank on a regular basis and reporting back from the benefit of actual experience.

[whatapalaver]

Of course the same figures can be applied to drivers, and no doubt motorsport as a whole. However for government funding you need to be able to show the organisation has an equality and diversity policy.

Still I would support anything that brings in more folk.

More British motorsport on TV (at not at stupid o'clock) would help. Unless you are interested it is very hard to find out what is going on in the clubbie races.

[Paul Newns]

At last the MSA seem to be taking a positive step. All they need to do now is stop neighbouring circuits holding meetings on the same weekend.

Like others, I'm concerned at the final paragraph. It seems the usual politically correctness c**p is creeping into motorsport. Like others I'm happy to work with anyone regardless of age, race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability (I work in local government so I know all of the categories!) so long as they are good company.

[PapaJuliet]

Originally Posted by Paul Newns

Like others, I'm concerned at the final paragraph. It seems the usual politically correctness c**p is creeping into motorsport. Like others I'm happy to work with anyone regardless of age, race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability (I work in local government so I know all of the categories!) so long as they are good company.

I read it the opposite way. If a woman or "coloured" person wants to become a marshal, we have to make sure that that they are not discouraged from applying because they may feel they wouldn't fit in.


In general, I have a really big issue with PC / Diversity / Dignity at work because it seems to make a big fuss over things which people I work with appear to feel are largely irrelevant. It may be different in the factory (but I have never had a problem when I have visited) but in the office environment everybody appears to be treated (insulted (?) ) the same regardless of anything. As a female engineer, I would actually object if I was treated any differently to any of the others that I work with unless it is related to that particular person's skills.

Each year, we have to fill in a survey for the management to try to guage how their employees feel. (Usually pretty badly in certain areas). The first year they asked "my manager thinks that diversity is important". How am I supposed to answer that? I am not a mind reader. They have since amended it to "my manager shows by his actions that diversity is important". I still refuse to answer because I don't believe he treats me any differently to my male colleagues, my black colleagues, my asian colleagues... nor would I want him to. However, I feel that is not the "approved" answer and I wouldn't want to get my manager into trouble - he's a pretty decent boss after all.

Recently, we have all had to do a "Dignity at Work" course but it seems to be more because we need to be seen to have various policies in place than because we actually have a problem.

OK rant over. We will now return you to your normal discussion.

PJ

[ss_collins]

I'm not being negative here but the bods atthe msa keep banging on about race and gender but could not take in a study by a group in london that revealed why and how to solve it - £150,000 this feasability study if taken further would have done the same for 10% of that.

Something has to change or the 'powers that be' will kill british motorsport.

If you try to increase diversity you will fail, you have to look at the reasons there are no blacks (that phrase 'coloured' is soo deeply offensive) in the sport. Its nothing to do with skin colour or wealth, its geography and society. The real question is - why is nobody getting into the sport.

£150,000 to be spent how exactly?

£15,000 in the study would be £1k per region to organise and run a 'motorsport expo' as part of a national scholarship that would bring 1100 new active participants into the sport per year (all under 21) be it drivers, co-drivers, navs or marshals.

Thats your money being spent.

[Peter Harding]

Originally Posted by ss_collins

I'm not being negative here .

Sorry, is it just me that sees the funny side of that comment Sam?

The money is not only for the investigations but also to implement actions.
Documents, leaflets etc, training initiatives, stands for exhibitions/race meetings are all on the agenda just for the recruitment bit.

Unfortunately, the people in government who hold the purse strings ARE politically minded and you have to consider all the ethnic, sexual and other bits just to prove to them that you are being inpartial. On the positive side, it is useful to examine the makeup of our volunteer force to see if there is anything we do that discourages certain sectors unnecessarily.

Oops, I am starting to sound PC now.

[Shelagh]

I am a "civil" servant and can only add that anything the government comes up with is automatically linked into "non-pc" be that colour, gender or the new "buzz" DIVERSITY. (Better not make any comments about colour of overalls, then!)

A bit more interesting is my own personal experience. When the marshals club was formed, women were not allowed anywhere near the track. And even as recently as when I joined (1989) I can't remember too many other ladies working trackside at Oulton Park - Audrey Watt for one.

There were no facilities on post and I recall once utilising a "hole in the ground" when nature could no longer be ignored! It is the increase of lady marshals which has resulted in the installation of those wonderful portaloos around OP. But what a benefit to the blokes as well!

So, it is these sorts of things that can make this sort of initiative a positive. I was already involved in the sport when I met Bill, but how many wives/girlfriends are turned off because it all looks so forbidding/spartan? They could be a valuable source of numbers.

And I do agree that in terms of "racial diversity" it is a real shame that a huge element of youth (coloured/black/asian), who probably have a huge interest in motorsport, might feel they cannot get involved because the marshals they see on TV all appear to be "white" and they might assume they would not "fit". Now, how do we overcome that?

I noticed today that Dorothy (I believe that is her name but could be wrong) was waving the chequered flag at the A1GP qualifying in Dubai. Now there is someone who is doing more for marshalling diversity than she realises because she is always on camera at BARC BTCC meetings and just proving that "colour" is no bar to involvement. The MSA should pick up on this if they are really serious.

[Woolley]

Mainly, she's a lovely person and a very good marshal, and I find people like that always fit in. If her presence removes a perceived bar to anyone, then excellent, but I'm sure she just thinks she's having an enjoyable hobby amongst like-minded people. That's the message I'd to get across.

[Mr.Orange]

The only Colour that matters is 'ORANGE',

The only Gender that matters is 'Good Company',

The only Religion that matters is 'Petrol Head' (and diesel groupies ),

And maybe worship the almighty 'V8'...