We are the Orienteering Foundation, a charity that promotes and supports orienteering, to bring all the benefits this amazing sport has to offer the people of the UK, and to ensure that our sport is here for the enjoyment of generations to come.
But the future of our sport is at risk. Only 10% of our orienteering community is aged between 20-34 and in 2017 nearly 10,000 school children participated in our grassroots schemes. Worryingly despite this good work we are seeing drop out rates of 70-80% in those crucial skill building years of ages 13-21.
And our volunteers are getting tired. Last year there was a 4% drop in the number of events run, but a 7% increase in competitors. The demands outside events also continue to rise. We know people want to participate in our sport but we are in danger of burning out our volunteers.
Technology in the sport provides massive opportunity but we need to invest. We have all seen major changes over the past twenty years with the emergence of electronic punching and tracking systems, mapping software, and online analysis tools.
With your support the Orienteering Foundation works to tackle emerging issues. We currently fund junior programmes, invest in elites, support adult coaching opportunities, support those developing tools and techniques to alleviate volunteer workloads, and sponsor projects which look to exploit new technologies in our sport. With your help we can do more.
GBR team coach education update
Last year we made a grant towards coach education for the GBR team (see award article). Here we catch up on how the program is going.
GBR team altitude training
In 2023 we gave a grant towards a high altitude training program for athletes preparing for international races. Here we catch up with a review of the program, and hear about plans to continue it into 2024.
Annual report 2023
Our annual report for 2023 is now available here.
Glasgow University BUCS grant
We are pleased to announce a grant to Glasgow University Orienteering Club towards expenses for the team attending BUCS
New CLOK club development officer
We recently extended our grant for CLOK's club development officer into a third year (see award here), and you can read the year two report here. Mary Fleming who used to be the CLOK CDO decided to step down, and CLOK have now appointed a new CDO - Rachel Baker.
Moravian club development officer update
Last year we announced an award to Moravian for a club development officer project, that would capitalise on the momentum created by the Moray 2023 Scottish 6 Days (see the award here, also awards for some other CDOs at the same time!). We now bring you a report on the progress with the project.
Coaching day review 2023
We were very pleased to support a sixth Orienteering Foundation coaching day in the Lake District in November 2023, kindly organised once again by Derek Allison.