Join in Announce Official Partnership with INTERSPORT

CLERKENWELL, U.K. - Sept. 18, 2014 - PRLog -- Join In, a London 2012 legacy charity that puts more volunteers into community sport, is pleased to announce that international sporting goods retailer, Intersport, has become an Official Partner. Together, Join In and Intersport aim to strengthen their existing relationships with grass roots sports clubs and make a lasting difference to community sports groups across the UK.

Intersport is a multinational organisation that prides itself on its sports knowledge and understanding of its customers’ needs. Each of its stores is at the heart of the local community and is a trusted source of expert advice to sports consumers across all ages and abilities. Intersport’s brand concept, ‘Sport to the People’, recognises its customers’ passion for sport and the essential role that the community plays within sport and physical activity.

The partnership is the perfect match for Join In, who has led the way in cementing a long lasting volunteer legacy following the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The charity, whose vision is to build a nation of active people, share the belief that grass roots sport is a vital part of the community and believes that volunteers are the lifeblood of that community.

As part of the collaboration, Join In’s team of over 250 Local Leaders will be matched with their local Intersport store in order to make volunteer resources more accessible to grass roots clubs. Join In Local Leaders are a network of volunteers that work on behalf of the charity to support clubs and team them up with existing and new volunteers in their area.

Minister for Civil Society, Brooks Newmark MP commented, "We believe that volunteers are at the core of thriving sports communities, which is why we are proud to have supported Join In from the very beginning. Join In has a clear mission to engage with local sports communities and build on the volunteering legacy of London 2012. It's fantastic to hear that Intersport share that vision and are committed to supporting Join In and delivering the ongoing social legacy of the Games."

Join In’s research shows that each volunteer can facilitate up to twelve additional participants in sport. Through the partnership, Join In and Intersport will expand their engagement with local sports clubs and groups and support them by providing a strong volunteer network and the resources that they need to develop and grow. By matching aspiring volunteers looking to lend a hand with the 7 out of 10 regional sports clubs that need help, the partnership will enable more participants to lead healthy and active lives.

Rebecca Birkbeck, CEO of charity Join In said of the partnership, “We are delighted to be working with Intersport, a major sports retailer with a real passion for grass roots sport.  Join In was set up in the wake of London 2012 to help sports clubs across the UK recruit the volunteers they need to thrive and grow.  This partnership signals a real step change in our ability to support these clubs who deliver such value into our communities.”

General Manager of Intersport UK, Tom Foley, added: “We are delighted to be partnering with Join In, a fantastic charity that embodies our ‘Sport to the People’ philosophy. Our stores throughout the country actively support their local sports communities and this partnership reinforces those relationships with obvious synergies from both sides. Community sport thrives in the UK and Ireland and this is all thanks to the vast number of volunteers who give up their time to help make this possible, so we couldn’t think of a better partner to be working with.”

Chairman of The Join In Trust, Lord Charles Allen of Kensington, CBE added, "I am delighted that INTERSPORT has joined us as an Official Partner. As we broaden our engagement with grassroots sports clubs, it is important to spread the word and highlight the vital role that volunteers play in community sport. INTERSPORT can help us do that, as they continue their very real commitment to making a difference in community sport."

Join In is a London 2012 legacy charity that puts more volunteers into community sport. For further information visit joininuk.org (http://www.joininuk.org)