Sports Management Volunteer Programme, St Lucia, Merrick Hayes (2021 cohort)

A Summer of Service and Sport in St. Lucia

Earlier this summer, with the support of the Tanglin Alumni Grant, I was fortunate enough to spend five weeks in St. Lucia on a Sports Management Internship with United Through Sport (UTS), aiming to make a positive impact through sport.

UTS is a global charity that empowers underserved youth through sport-based education, health programmes, and life skills development. In St. Lucia, my project advanced their targeted initiatives to counter unemployment, gang activity, and childhood obesity in the communities most in need.

Life as a Volunteer

During my time in St. Lucia, I was fully embedded within the UTS Caribbean team and the local community. My role was to help deliver a wide range of initiatives, both on and off the field.

A typical week included hands-on coaching and management, such as open-water swimming lessons, rugby training, and activities with pre-schoolers. I also explored the island’s natural beauty by hiking the Pitons, discovering waterfalls, and watching cricket with locals.

Alongside these experiences came essential administrative work: I developed a player registration system for rugby on the island, wrote blog posts to document progress, and built out social media channels to increase the programme’s visibility and reach. These systems were designed to ensure the sustainability, leaving a lasting impact long after my departure.

Key Projects

Two projects, in particular, stood out as highlights of my trip.

1. Supporting the Future of St. Lucia Rugby

One of my proudest achievements was drafting a comprehensive sponsorship proposal for the St. Lucia Rugby Football Union (SLRFU). Working with the union’s technical director, I created a business plan to secure future funding for their flagship annual event, the Carnival 7s tournament.

This was a fantastic opportunity to apply academic insight from my sports management degree in a real-world setting. The proposal outlined sponsor compatibility, benefits, investment levels, and impact measurement. I was thrilled to receive positive feedback and to know my work would support the SLRFU in attracting sponsors to ensure the tournament’s sustainability.

2. Miles for Smiles Caribbean: A Fundraising Swim

Another highlight was organising Miles for Smiles Caribbean, a swimming fundraiser planned and executed with a group of fellow volunteers. Our mission was to swim 14 miles—the width of St. Lucia—as a team, raising funds to purchase a portable shelter for local schoolchildren who attend open-water swimming lessons on Anse la Raye beach.

This programme is vital for improving water safety and confidence among children. Seeing the fundraiser exceed expectations was hugely rewarding: our team swam a total of 20 miles and raised over £1,000, making a tangible difference for the community.

Lessons, Growth, and Gratitude

Overall, this trip was a profound and transformative experience. Immersing myself in the sports charity sector, an area in which I had limited experience, provided invaluable opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Travelling to a new country, meeting new people, and collaborating on challenging yet rewarding initiatives pushed me beyond my comfort zone. The connections I made and the lessons I learned have left a lasting impression.

Most importantly, I came away with a deeper appreciation for the power of sport as a vehicle for positive impact. It really is a means towards addressing some of the most pressing social issues of our time.

This journey would not have been possible without the support of the Alumni Grant. I am truly grateful to the Tanglin community for making this experience a reality. I strongly encourage other alumni to apply for the grant; it offers a unique opportunity to create meaningful impact while gaining invaluable life experiences.