Across Europe, Sport for All organisations are facing increasing challenges in attracting and retaining young volunteers. Changing expectations, competing demands, and limited recognition or structured support, particularly at grassroots level, are key barriers to long-term engagement.
To better understand these challenges, the REACH project gathered insights from 65 young volunteers across Europe through participatory workshops. Their perspectives are brought together in the Youth Needs & Expectations Report, now available as an interactive online tool.
The findings show that young people are motivated by a combination of personal development, social connection, and the desire to contribute meaningfully. However, staying engaged depends on the conditions organisations create. Clear roles, opportunities for learning and growth, a strong sense of belonging, recognition, and flexibility all play a crucial role in sustaining participation.
A key takeaway is that successful youth engagement requires alignment between individual development, community, and organisational practices. Creating the right environment is essential, not only to attract young volunteers, but to support them in the long term.
Explore the interactive tool here:
