Sports clubs in Denmark hire paid staff amid volunteer shortages

Several sports clubs have begun hiring paid staff due to insufficient volunteer support. One such example is Charlotte Enok Poulsen, who was hired last year as a coordinator and development consultant for Gauerslund Gymnastik. At that time, the club was a typical volunteer-run organization with 700-800 members. However, as the ambition to establish a fitness center grew, so did the workload. According to Poulsen, the role requires a full 37 hours a week of planning, fundraising, and communication, alongside occasional instruction duties.

Thomas Orelius, the club’s chairman, noted that having a dedicated employee streamlines communication between the club and its partners, which previously led to duplicated efforts. “If you post on social media regarding a lack of trainers, you won’t get results; you need to engage directly with people, which takes time,” he said.

To ensure that membership fees do not increase to cover her salary, the club has pursued external fundraising, which has been beneficial. Under Poulsen’s tenure, membership has nearly doubled, largely due to the new fitness center and additional gymnastics offerings.

Both major sports organizations in Denmark, DGI and DIF, recognize a trend of clubs considering or already hiring paid staff, particularly those with over 1,000 members. Four clubs in the DGI Sydøstjylland region have recently added full-time employees to manage daily operations and foster growth.

While some argue that increasing demands justify these hires, others suggest it is the growing pressure to deliver greater service that necessitates paid positions. Meanwhile, DGI is establishing networks for newly hired staff to share experiences and challenges. Poulsen herself remains focused on enhancing engagement, especially among teenagers, exploring collaborations with local clubs to keep them active.