Every Body Counts

The podcast episode of "Community Chats on the Cats" features Keith Rogers, who is the Youth Participation and Volunteering Lead at Everybody Health & Leisure.The episode provides an in-depth look at the charity's extensive volunteering program and its role in the community:Mission: Keith explains that Everybody Health & Leisure is a registered health and wellbeing charity. His role sits within the Sport for Everybody team, where he leads youth participation and oversees volunteering programs across Cheshire East.Scope: The organization manages 15 facilities with volunteers across Cheshire East(out of 18 total facilities). At the time of recording, there were 109 active volunteers on the program, with another 30 in the onboarding process.Impact: The volunteering program reached a milestone of 50,000 total hours in November 2025 and currently averages about 500 hours per month.The program is inclusive, with volunteers ranging in age from 14 to 79 years old. Roles are broadly categorized as:Community Activators: Typically younger volunteers (ages 14–18) who assist with holiday camps, "Ability for All" disability programs, and Learn to Swim sessions.Community Connectors: Often more senior volunteers who support "Sport and Social" sessions (like pickleball, netball, and badminton), acting as meet-and-greeters to make participants feel welcome.Taste for Life: Opportunities in the onsite cafes for those interested in hospitality.The App: Keith highlights the Everybody Volunteering app (powered by TeamKinetic), which is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for users to find and sign up for opportunities.Mentorship: New volunteers are not expected to be experts; they go through an induction via the Everybody Academy and are paired with staff mentors or coaches for support.Career Pathways: While volunteering and paid employment are legally distinct, Keith notes that 9 volunteers moved into permanent roles (such as swim teachers) in the 12 months prior to the interview.Keith mentions that the easiest way for someone to start is to search for "Everybody Volunteers" online, which leads to their portal where they can register and schedule an automated induction meeting.Keith's Role and the OrganizationVolunteering OpportunitiesTechnology and TrainingHow to Get Involved