25/01/12 Games Time Kent Greeters - 300 volunteers required

Mike Hill, KCC cabinet member for customer and communities, Hugh Robertson, Olympics minister, and Amanda Cottrell, chairman of Visit Kent

Kent County Council in partnership with Visit Kent is offering 300 volunteers the opportunity to become official Games Time Kent Greeters and play an active part in the 2012 Games.

Games Time Kent Greeters will be on hand to provide support and advice to residents and visitors from July 17 to September 9. They willplay an essential role along the route of the Torch Relay, including the special events and overnight stops at Dover and Maidstone, and at key transport hubs such as Dover, Ebbsfleet and Sevenoaks during the Olympics and Paralympics.

Volunteers need to be over 18 years old with an overriding enthusiasm for the Games, the county and meeting new people. No specific skills or qualifications are required and full customer service training will be given including access to a fun, online Welcome to Kent training programme.

In return for giving their time for free, Games Time Kent Greeters will be part of a group of like-minded people, benefit from certificated training opportunities, receive free travel and refreshments for volunteering shifts, a free official 2012 uniform and backpack, and a souvenir 2012 pin badge.

The search for volunteers to become Games Time Kent Greeters was launched by Visit Kent at Penshurst Place, near Tonbridge, on Friday (January 20), by Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson, who is also MP from Faversham and Mid-Kent.

The project is funded by Kent County Council’s Sport, Leisure and Olympics Service, and is delivered in partnership with Voluntary Action Maidstone.

Sandra Matthews-Marsh, chief executive at Visit Kent, said: “This is a tremendous opportunity to play a significant role in the greatest sporting spectacular in the world – helping Kent people and our visitors capture all the excitement of the Games.

“Our Games Time Kent Greeters will be our frontline ambassadors welcoming our guests from across the world. They will be helping our visitors have such a memorable and enjoyable experience that they will want to return to Kent in years to come and will recommend the Garden of England as a great destination to all their friends and families.”

Application forms will available from libraries, volunteer centres and council Gateway service centres across the county. You can alsoapply online at www.visitkentbusiness.co.uk/gamestimegreeters. The deadline for applications is Friday, April 6.

All applications will be reviewed and a shortlist drawn up for interviews to be held in April and May.

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