Sports academics from Bournemouth University are working with Team England to select their support team for the next Commonwealth Games.
With the games taking place in Glasgow next year, Team England is in the process of selecting and developing their ‘Team Behind the Team’, volunteers who will be a vital part of the preparation for and delivery of the Games.
Dr Lucy Sheppard-Marks and Dr Emma Kavanagh from BU’s Business School recently joined representatives from Team England and the British Paralympic Association at a Recruitment Day in London.
Dr Kavanagh, who will act as the Team Psychologist for the Team Behind the Team during the games, explained, “These events are so important to build a diverse team of volunteers to create the best environment during games time for all. The vision was to create a day that was inclusive and allowed all candidates to show what they could uniquely bring to the team behind the team.”
Around 30 candidates attended the event, hoping to be selected for operational volunteer roles responsible for areas such as Team England’s HQ and central operations, stakeholder and VIP support and team logistics.
The successful candidates will join a wider team including sports medics, physiotherapists and other health practitioners.
Dr Lucy Sheppard-Marks, Lecturer in Sports and Event Management at BU, said “Each person chosen to become part of the Team Behind the Team will play a part in England’s success at the games. They will be responsible for creating the right environment for the athletes to thrive and focus on their performances when it matters most.”
The Tower of Power (by Metalog) Dr Sheppard-Marks led the candidates through several team development and leadership sessions. The first task saw candidates tackle the Tower of Power, a team-building tool which she has used with her BUBS students and which was provided the University’s School Liaison and Partnerships Team.
This was followed by a scenario planning exercise designed to get the candidates to be inclusive and reflective in their decision making. Finally, candidates were interviewed by members of the team to ensure a fully rounded experience.
Dr Kavanagh and Dr Sheppard-Marks were joined by Susannah Townsend MBE who has competed for England and Great Britain in hockey at multiple Commonwealth Games and was part of the gold medal winning team at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
“Lucy was outstanding in the way she guided the group through the team-building exercise. She challenged the candidates to think differently, encouraged them to step outside of their comfort zones, it was brilliant to see how she gave every individual the confidence to trust their instincts and work together creatively,” Susannah said.
“Equally, Emma’s familiarisation activity was a fantastic start to the day. She showed her own vulnerability, which immediately relaxed the candidates and created an environment of openness and trust. On a day like this, when candidates naturally feel a little pressure, that ability to connect and put people at ease is absolutely crucial, and Emma did it superbly,” she added.
Team England’s Chef de Mission, Francesca Carter-Kelly added, “I’d like to thank Emma and Lucy for their contribution to the day, and I look forward to seeing the team come together over the coming months as we build towards the Games. The day was a great success and the involvement from Emma and Lucy supported us to really get to know and understand our candidates, ultimately informing our decision making to put the best individuals around the athletes who will be striving for success, and looking to make history, at Glasgow 2026 next summer”.
