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6 Weeks Volunteering in Saint Lucia: Anabelle’s Experience

In June 2026, Anabelle travelled to Saint Lucia to spend six weeks volunteering with United Through Sport. As a Sport Science student with a passion for sport and working with children, the experience gave her the opportunity to develop her coaching skills, work with young people and experience life on the island.

Why I Chose to Volunteer in Saint Lucia

When we first arrived and were picked up from the airport, we were all so excited. Our first impressions of the house were excitement and friendliness from all the current volunteers.

We visited the marina on the first evening, which was a great way to socialise with everyone and make friends.

I wanted to join this trip as I had visited the island before and knew I wanted to come back. Combined with my love for sports and working with kids, this sports coaching trip seemed like the best opportunity.

Coaching Netball in Saint Lucia

I coached netball whilst in St Lucia, coaching primarily 2 different netball squads. During each week, I also often taught netball basics to summer camp children.

Alongside this, when available I frequently helped with swimming coaching. Most mornings for me started at a preschool session, with one on one supporter or group activities, before heading to a sport session in the afternoon or evening.

A highlight for me was the netball coaches appreciation of my coaching when I worked with their teams, and the gratitude they showed me, telling me how valuable my work was.

I found the athletes were always attentive and ready to learn, especially older teenage netballers, who clearly were striving to improve their game so were always focused.

Working With Children Through Sport

Throughout my six weeks, I had the opportunity to work with children from all different backgrounds.

I delivered netball sessions, supported swimming and other sporting activities, helped run multi-sport camps and worked within preschools to introduce young children to physical activity through fun and engaging sessions.

I also had the opportunity to work with children with special educational needs, which further developed my ability to adapt activities and communication to meet individual needs.

As a Sport Science student, the experience allowed me to put many of the skills I developed throughout my degree into practice.

Working with different ages, abilities and environments challenged me to adapt my communication and approach, while strengthening my leadership, teamwork, organisation and problem-solving skills.

More importantly, the experience gave me a greater appreciation of the role that physical activity, education and healthy lifestyles can play in supporting overall health and wellbeing, encouraging more supportive environments and better choices.

Exploring Saint Lucia and Making Lifelong Friends

The social side of this trip was amazing. I made friends from all across Europe who I now see as my closest friends!

In our free time and evenings, we most often spent our time together as a group by going to the beach, cooking together or going out for food together.

Every Friday we went on an excursion. I visited Marigot Bay, the Gros Piton hike, Splash Island, went jet skiing and we had two boat parties!

I loved all of these trips as they were a great way to explore the island whilst spending time together as a group.

The boat parties were great fun and a gorgeous way to see the island by sea.

Every Wednesday we visited a karaoke bar in the evening, which was such a fun way to build bonds with the other volunteers and the coordinators.

I think these experiences really shaped my experience and helped me to build strong friendships, which made it very hard to say goodbye.

Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone

This experience pushed me far out of my comfort zone, having never been away from home for more than a few weeks before. I was worried initially that I wasn’t going to have the confidence to build strong relationships.

But I felt so supported and comfortable, from the staff and other volunteers, that my confidence grew massively, allowing me to say yes to every experience!

This trip was eye opening. Spending time with children coming from all different backgrounds was amazing.

It was heart-warming seeing the effects our coaching had on the kids days, and how excited they were for our sessions.

As well as living in a house with all my friends, it’s such a fun experience being surrounded by like-minded people 24/7, so I will miss everyone lots, as well as the friendly Lucian culture.

What I Took Away From My Experience

I know that volunteering in Saint Lucia has been a life-changing experience, allowing me to make a positive impact on the community through sport whilst building life-long connections.

This experience has developed my self-confidence, teamwork and leadership skills, leaving me with a new perspective on the power of sport to bring people together.

I’m incredibly grateful to United Through Sport for the opportunity and to everyone I met throughout my six weeks in Saint Lucia. It was an experience that challenged me, helped me grow both personally and professionally, and gave me skills and perspectives that I’ll carry forward into my future career.

Would I Recommend Volunteering with UTS?

If someone was thinking about volunteering, I’d say do it 100%, it’ll change your life for the better!

My six weeks in Saint Lucia gave me the opportunity to develop my coaching skills, work with children and young people, explore the island and build friendships that I hope will last a lifetime.

It was an experience I will never forget.

Interested in volunteering?

Combine sport, travel and making a difference with a United Through Sport volunteering programme.

START YOUR JOURNEY → Experience something new with United Through Sport!