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.
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...
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.
Are you thinking of a personal challenge in 2021? Why not do it as a fundraiser for the Orienteering Foundation!
We are pleased to award a grant to Forth Valley Orienteers (FVO) to help extend their Development Officer role.
After 5 years in the role, Neil Cameron (NGOC) has stepped down as Chair of the Orienteering Foundation, and Andrew Evans (DFOK) has taken over.
After 6 years in role, Duncan Archer is stepping down as a Trustee, but continuing as an Ambassador of the Orienteering Foundation.
We recently announced support for CLOK to contract a Club Development Officer. This position is now being advertised.