The second in our series featuring club volunteers is Karen Kitahara who, in addition to being the Club’s Welfare Officer, is the team secretary and liaison for the u14 Bobcats. Karen was named Pride Park FC’s Volunteer of the Year last season (2023/24) - so who better for our reporter to catch up with to find out why she volunteers and what she gets out of it.

D: Tell us a little about yourself
K: “I’m a happy wife and a fulfilled mum of two daughters aged 16 and 13 and work in a primary school. Despite life being full on as a result, I’ve always enjoyed volunteering so the community can continue to offer wonderful activities to children and young adults. This helps them grow independently."

D: Do you have a sporting background and how did you get into volunteering?
K: “I do not belong to any sporting team myself but enjoy physical activities such as going to the gym, fitness classes, swimming and running.
“My daughter started football at about the time she finished Brownies, so I left my Treasurer responsibilities with Brownies to become the Club Welfare Officer for her football club and the team liaison for her team, as help was needed."

D: Do you enjoy volunteering and what do you get out of it?
K: "Without volunteers, lots of extra-curricular activities - and Pride Park FC - wouldn’t be running so that is the driving force for me. Through clubs, our children learn so much whilst having fun. Their happiness is the reward of our effort. This is what I like about volunteering.
Our football club is full of enthusiastic volunteers; some are highly experienced and support the less experienced ones to learn the ropes in many different ways. I never feel stuck as help is always just a phone call or a text message away."

D: Did you have any reservations or challenges to overcome before you started volunteering?
K: "I know nothing about football so that could, in itself, be a challenge but that didn’t stop me from volunteering… there are lots of roles that require no technical skills but still help the club run smoothly. We get training from the FA and the coaches attend workshops to help them develop their team so, if I really wanted to know more about the technical side of things, I would just need to speak out and attend workshops too."

D: Have you developed skills or attained any qualifications as a result of volunteering?
K: "There’s lots to learn and keep up to date with when volunteering so the FA ensures we do this by offering courses to all volunteers as well as some free, informative ones for parents and carers. I also like it when the FA runs CPD sessions for Welfare Officers on safeguarding as it’s an ever-evolving area and helps me feel confident we are doing our role right. As mentioned above, the club is very supportive and encourage us to attend workshops to keep us up to date and motivated. In many cases the skills we develop through volunteering are transferable so employers are often interested in any volunteering undertaken by potential employees."

D: What impact has volunteering had on you?
K: "From a personal level, I feel I’m playing a part in our children’s development without being a parent. We make decisions together as a club for the benefit of these young people."

D: What advice would you give other people thinking about volunteering?
K: There’s always a way to help – no matter how big or small. There’s always a little bit of time to be given. We’re all volunteers - it’s not work – so the expectations are very different and… it’s fun!"

D: Thanks Karen!

Karen is pictured with the u14 Bobcats

Pride Park FC is run exclusively by volunteers. Help is needed across a broad spectrum of roles and tasks, from recognised roles on the Committee, with specific tasks or projects, to informal and unofficial help at team level – so the coaches can get on with coaching and making the players’ experience of training and matches as enjoyable and fulfilling as possible.

It doesn’t generally require any specialist skills or football knowledge, just enthusiasm and willingness to help. Whatever you’re able to do - whether it’s help with a one-off time limited project, occasional support or a more regular commitment, we have plenty of tasks needing to be done!

If you’d like to know more about helping out, please speak to your team’s manager or contact the Secretary secretary@prideparkfc.com or see the CONTACTS PAGE for the number