Wimbledon 2017

What
Information for volunteers of Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare who will be helping out collecting donations at the Wimbledon Tennis queue.

Why
The Wimbledon tennis queue is always a big source of donations for WGW but it is only possible through the assistance of volunteers and their hounds. This page collects information the volunteers will need about this event.

When
Every day for at least the first week which is Monday 3rd July to Saturday 8th July.

There is not normally a queue on the Sunday (9th) unless the first week has been rained off too many times.

We may also attend some days in the following week if we have the volunteers and the queue is still present.

The queue starts to move early so it is best if we have hounds present from 7am. The queue tends to have gone through by early afternoon so it is likely we will finish around 2pm. Some days it has emptied by 12.30pm. You do not of course have to sign up for a full day; any amount of help even for an hour or two is appreciated.

Where
Wimbledon Park.

You will be using the first entrance to Wimbledon park which is on Wimbledon Park Road near the junction of Woodspring Road. The nearest post code for your sat nav is probably SW19 6NS but do check that comes up with something sensible. There will be many stewards present near the gate. Say you are "with the greyhound charity" and they will tell you where to park.

If arriving around 7am the traffic isn't too bad but be aware that Wimbledon traffic will be a nightmare by 8am.

If on foot it's about a 15 minute walk from Southfields tube straight up Wimbledon Park Road - follow the crowds!

Contacts
On site each day your contact is Julie Higham (Monday, Wednesday, Saturday), Debbie Ladd (Tuesday, Thursday) or Janie (for the Friday).

For questions prior to the event please contact Andy Smith either by email to [mailto:wgw@strugglers.net wgw@strugglers.net], Facebook or as a last resort phone 07814 149683.

If you wish to bring a kennel dog you will need to check with the kennels if there are any available and suitable. If there are any then you will likely be advised to make it only a short day as it is a bit much for them! Note that there generally aren't any staff at the kennels before 7am.

Safety
You must take responsibility for yourself and any dogs that you bring with you. On site each day there is a person responsible for the event as a whole (in this case Julie, Debbie or Janie) and for safety reasons they may make decisions including but not limited to:


 * Sending you and/or your dogs home early
 * Insisting upon taking your dog to the emergency vet
 * Calling an early end to the day
 * Cancelling a day ahead of time

Each day's organiser will be acting in accordance with [[Media:Outdoor_event_risk_assessment.pdf|WGW's Outdoor Event Risk Assessment procedures]] and any decision they make when enforcing these will be supported by WGW even if it later proves to be unnecessary.

Hounds in the care of the kennels must remain on lead at all times. Wimbledon Park is popular with walkers of off-lead dogs so other breeds are likely to be encountered. Only sociable hounds should be brought to this event and it is your decision and responsibility if you allow your own dogs off-lead.

Facilities
Fresh water and shade will be available for the dogs so please use them.

There is a first aid kit in the gazebo. Any accidents must be reported to the person in charge that day.

Emergency vet
The nearest veterinary practice is:

Stone Lion Vet

41 High Street, Wimbledon

London SW19 5AU

Tel.: [tel:02089464228 020 8946 4228]

On the right you can see directions as provided by Google. Also available in Google Maps.

They are aware that they are our chosen emergency vets for this event. In the unlikely situation that the vet's services are necessary please make sure the person in charge on the day is aware as they are responsible for ensuring your dog goes to the vet and may wish to accompany you. Please note that this vet has no parking, only a drive way. Anyone visiting the vet will therefore need at least two people so that one can drop off the dog while the driver finds a parking place.

Rota
This is just to give us an idea who to expect and when. If you can no longer make it, no worries, please just let us know as soon as possible.

The name in bold is the person who is in charge on-site for each day.

Second week
We're only going to attend on Monday and Wednesday, with Wednesday likely to be a short day, perhaps finishing by 11am.

To Be Decided

 * Clare Graham (with Ken). Needs for Ken's poorly foot to get better first; may be able to do a couple of hours of a morning.
 * Sue Sterling (with Rua)

Parking
This doodle is from 2015 but the gazebo is in roughly the same place. It's a black gazebo with aluminium legs and the words "Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare" on it in white.

The track above where the gazebo is marked is normally where they run the queue between barriers, and then it runs straight up the left edge. The queue entrance is at the right end of that track, where the trees go around the corner. That's where we mostly stand and the water tap is near there.

The first time you arrive after parking up you will need to collect your parking permit from the volunteer in charge and display it in your vehicle.

Vehicle details
We have been asked to collect details of volunteer vehicles. If you have not yet supplied these to Andy then you may not be given vehicle access to the park.

What should I do before the event?
If possible try to get the phone number of the volunteer in charge on the day(s) you're attending in case there is a problem and you can no longer turn up. They'd appreciate a text message or phone call so they know not to expect you. If you don't have these numbers, please ask Andy for them.

What do I need to bring?
Blankets and water bowl for your hound. There's a water tap near our gazebo.

We will have the gazebo for shade but if it's very sunny and you have an easy way to provide more shade (e.g. a small tent) then that will be useful.

Consider the weather. You will know best if your hound would benefit from a coolcoat or a coat for warmth.

Food on site is of the expensive burger van variety so you may prefer to bring your own. It's quite a long walk to any shops on Wimbledon Park Road.

Is there anywhere to sit?
Our gazebo gear normally comes with two foldable camping chairs. If you are able to bring more then that would be useful, otherwise when not standing near or walking the queue you may be laying down with the hounds!

Are there toilets?
Yes, there are two toilet blocks. One is near the entrance gate and the other is at the opposite end of the park.

What do I need to do?
If you've never helped before you are very welcome; there is nothing difficult and we will help you on the day.

Mostly it involves standing near the moving queue with a donation bucket, accepting donations, chatting to people about the hounds and giving out leaflets if they are local and seem interested. There is absolutely no bucket-shaking (this is not our way and it's also not allowed) or getting in people's way.

If the queue is not moving then we may walk down the rows of people who are camped, again just accepting donations and chatting about the hounds. If someone asks you a question and you don't know the answer, don't worry, just say you don't know and if there is another volunteer nearby pass the question on to them. If you're a volunteer with someone else's dog then be prepared to be asked what the dog's name is and how old they are!

There are bright blue hi-vis jackets for all our volunteers to wear and a number of custom-made racing coats for the hounds just so we can all look part of one group.

Take regular breaks in the quiet of the gazebo and enjoy yourself with the other volunteers and their hounds. Go home whenever you like!

Do what the stewards and police say even if it seems contrary to what we've done in the past - we rely on the good will of the event organisers and local council to keep being invited each year to this very important event. If in any doubt talk to the volunteer in charge each day.

Why only the first week?
The first week is by far the busiest and we'd like to cover it as much as we can. Depending on which names are left in the competition after the first week it may be worth it for us to also attend some days in the second week. We won't know this until the time, so we'll try to sort it out then if that is the case. By all means do let us know if you can only help in the second week; we'll contact you if it starts to look like we'll be there.