Newcomer Retention Group launched
We are pleased to announce we have now established the Newcome Retention Group, held our first virtual meeting, and are actively seeking further input.
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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.
News stories
Isle of Arran orienteering project
We are pleased to be contributing towards an orienteering initiative on the Isle of Arran!
Ian Gamlen ambassador
We are delighted to welcome Ian Gamlen as Ambassadors for the Orienteering Foundation in the West Midlands
Steve Cram Elected as British Orienteering President
British Orienteering were pleased to announce Steve Cram CBE as British Orienteering's fifth President.
Aspiring Elites
British Orienteering and The Orienteering Foundation launch new initiative
We are delighted to announce that we are providing funding of £3,000 per year for the next 3 years to help facilitate the provision of additional support to young senior elites.
Newcomer Retention Project
The Orienteering Foundation is sponsoring a review of what we've termed “orienteering newcomer retention”. We believe this area is important for increasing participation yet it has not, as far as we know, been well studied to understand it and how retention can be improved. We are seeking some volunteers to help with the study - read on if you are interested...
BOC / BRC refunds raise over £6000 for JROS
Entrants to the cancelled British Championships weekend have generously donated more than £6000 in refunds to the Junior Regional Orienteering Squads (JROS) via the Orienteering Foundation.
What will you do in 2021?
Are you thinking of a personal challenge in 2021? Why not do it as a fundraiser for the Orienteering Foundation!