LVO Juniors and Families Project Report
Lagan Valley Orienteers have now completed their two-year juniors and families project, supported by an Orienteering Foundation grant, and their final report shows just how much has been achieved. The project focused on welcoming juniors and families into the club through a dedicated officer role, with impressive results in membership growth, family engagement and junior progression.
Since the project began, total club membership has risen strongly, with junior membership almost doubling from 29 to 57. The report also highlights a broader shift in the club’s profile, with more families joining together and improved female representation across the membership. These changes reflect not only successful recruitment, but also the creation of a more welcoming and sustainable club environment for young people and parents alike.
The report shows that one of the most successful aspects of the project was the move from introductory family sessions into more regular, structured coaching for older juniors. While the early Running Wild sessions were effective in bringing families into the sport, the later Teens and Tweens programme proved especially valuable in helping young orienteers build skills, confidence and independence. This has already translated into stronger participation at regional and national events.
LVO’s juniors are now making a much bigger impact in competition, including at Irish championship level and a group attending the JK in Scotland this year. The report also shares useful reflections on what worked best, what the club learned along the way, and how these foundations can support future junior development in Northern Ireland.
It is especially encouraging to see how grant support has helped LVO test different approaches, build stronger family involvement and create a pathway from first experiences of orienteering through to confident competition. The full report is well worth a read for anyone interested in junior development, club growth and newcomer retention.