CSSC project report
Earlier this year we made an award to the Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC) who provides sports, leisure offers, member benefits and discounts to civil service and public sector organisations. The award was to expand their offering to include orienteering opportunities as part of their Active Wellbeing initiative. Here we bring you a 6 month report on progress.
Introduction
The Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC) aimed to broaden the range of activities offered to CSSC Members by introducing Orienteering, an alternative to traditional walking routes. As part of this expansion, CSSC planned to introduce a new activity that differed from traditional walking routes by incorporating a navigational element. This new activity added an engaging navigational element, requiring participants to find checkpoints and complete a designated route, offering a fresh and
interactive experience for their audience.
A three-month pilot study was launched in Sheffield to explore and develop effective engagement strategies for orienteering through collaborative partnerships. The initiative was supported by funding from the Orienteering Foundation and guidance from British Orienteering. The pilot aligned with CSSC’s Active Wellbeing 2025 key initiative, with the objective of evaluating how MapRun App-based activities could promote physical activity, foster partnerships, and generate broader interest in the sport. If successful, the pilot was expected to lead to a wider, phased, and coordinated rollout.
Sheffield Parkwood Springs Family Event
As part of its efforts to engage members in new ways, CSSC partnered with British Orienteering who offered a taster orienteering session alongside CSSC's Active Wellbeing Cycling Event held on Sunday, 8th June 2025 at Parkwood Springs in Sheffield. This gave non-cyclists an alternative activity to enjoy on the day. The initiative aligned with CSSC’s wellbeing goals and complemented the recent addition of cycling to its range of activities.
After identifying key contacts, volunteers, and Workplace Walking Champions within the Sheffield offices, CSSC explored the opportunity to collaborate with South Yorkshire Orienteers to support event promotion and assess the availability of club members to assist on the day. Caroline from British Orienteering coordinated with South Yorkshire Orienteers, resulting in their Club Development Officer attending and providing support at the family event.
On the day, both CSSC members and non-members were required to navigate a series of checkpoints to complete the route, adding an element of challenge and engagement beyond a standard walk. The activity was further enhanced using the MapRun App, which recorded each participant’s route—regardless of whether they chose to walk or move at a faster pace. Attendance and participation on the day included a mix of individuals, pairs and family groups taking part in the orienteering course, totalling 20 people, which also included staff from the Sheffield Department for Education (DfE) Office. After completing the initial course, some attendees chose to navigate the route again, this time tackling a more advanced version of the course.
It was hoped that some individuals who attended the family day event would be encouraged to explore additional MapRun-based activities and potentially participate in orienteering events hosted by their local clubs. Having prior experience with the MapRun App was expected to enhance their understanding and enjoyment of the sport, thereby increasing the likelihood of continued involvement and eventual club membership.
Promotional Materials, Advertisement and Resources
CSSC served as the primary driver for raising awareness of the Sheffield Family Event Day, utilising a variety of promotional materials including posters, social media posts, and email newsletters sent to CSSC members. In collaboration with the Sheffield offices, and with support from the South Yorkshire Orienteering Club, CSSC worked to enhance awareness of the event within the local community. The South Yorkshire Orienteering Club played an instrumental role in promoting the orienteering element of the day, while CSSC focused on external engagement and visibility through digital communications.
Promoting Orienteering Event and Routes within North West Workplace Associations
Within the Government Offices, CSSC established a strong network of connections across the Department for Educatio (DfE),
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and Home Office, identifying key contacts, volunteers, and Workplace Walking Champions to help promote the event internally. These representatives supported communication efforts by distributing weekly emails and displaying printed posters throughout office spaces. Their efforts helped raise awareness not only of the family event but also of the orienteering routes available via the MapRun app, which were designed around the Government Offices to encourage staff to spend more time outdoors and stay active.
British Orienteering Training
Caroline from British Orienteering is currently preparing PowerPoint presentations to deliver to CSSC members and Workplace Walking Champions within various offices. Three distinct training sessions are being offered: Introduction to Orienteering within the Workplace, Promoting Orienteering within the Workplace, and Becoming Upskilled in Orienteering.
To date, Caroline has conducted one online training session via Microsoft Teams, attended by representatives from Border Force, the DfE, the Home Office, and the Land Registry. A second session is scheduled for 15th July, with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) expected to participate.
Recommendations and Next Steps
- Upskilling current Walk Champions, Walk Leaders and Workplace Champions, with the aim of easing the overall workload. The 'Becoming Upskilled in Orienteering' training sessions have generated the highest level of interest and participation from government offices. With resources provided by British Orienteering and distributed to government offices, it is hoped that more staff will feel confident to lead orienteering routes within their local areas.
- Exploring the potential for future integration with the British Orienteering central database to create a unified entry system. Such a system could eventually help streamline access to discount codes and offers, enhancing the overall experience for CSSC members. An important factor in any future development will be ensuring that CSSC participants can easily find and access events beyond their immediate local areas.
- Progressing existing initiatives, including the relaunch in September of orienteering activities in Sheffield and Manchester, the appointment of Orienteering Champions across additional government departments, and the
promotion of MapRun route usage. - Departments including the DCMS and the MOD have shown growing interest in orienteering and are set to attend the second Orienteering Training session in July. Collaboration continues with the DfE and the Home Office, with significant engagement also emerging from Land Registry. This presents a valuable opportunity to align with the Active Wellbeing Campaign scheduled for September. The Home Office site in Croydon has also been identified as a key area for potential partnership with British Orienteering.
- CSSC and British Orienteering are actively developing tailored office-based and inter-office challenges. These will include activities such as completing 1–2 km routes, tracking the highest number of routes completed, and promoting participation through a range of engaging orienteering activities.
- Looking beyond the Active Wellbeing Campaign, there are plans to sustain momentum by encouraging offices to create their own internal orienteering challenges. These would be led by identified volunteers and key contacts within departments, helping to embed orienteering into the workplace culture and encourage regular activity.
- External collaborations are also progressing well. Loughborough University and local orienteering clubs are engaged, with Caroline from British Orienteering set to attend the university’s Sports Day in September, where she will host an orienteering course event. Additionally, a meeting with Land Registry staff is scheduled via Microsoft Teams to discuss the logistics and agenda for the day. A local Orienteering Club in Liverpool has the potential to build new links and collaboration opportunities and is well-positioned to develop strategic partnerships with both Border Force and Land Registry. A new partnership has also been formed with South East Lancashire Orienteering Club (SELOC) and Wigan Be Well team, and events are expected to take place in September or October. In September British Orienteering and SELOC will introduce a Street Orienteering format event featuring a treasure hunt-style challenge within the MapRun app. Participants will be tasked with locating clues such as specific signs and street furniture, making the experience more interactive and engaging. Both CSSC and British Orienteering are keen to expand this format across future government office initiatives using the MapRun app.