MDOC "Run Wild" project award
We are to make an award to Manchester & District Orienteering Club (MDOC) to support its ambitious "Run Wild - Release your Spirit of Adventure" project. The initiative aims to attract more newcomers into the sport, particularly young adults and families, while creating lasting pathways into club membership and regular participation.
The project builds on several successful initiatives trialled by the club in recent years and focuses on making it easier for newcomers to discover and enjoy orienteering. A series of innovative, newcomer-focused activities will be introduced, including local event programmes, urban and street-orienteering formats, and partnerships with running and outdoor activity communities.
A key feature of the project is the use of technology-assisted event delivery models. These approaches are designed to reduce the burden on volunteers while enabling the club to offer more opportunities for people to try the sport. The project will also continue MDOC's successful marketing and social media activity, helping the club reach new audiences and inspire more people to get involved.
During the first phase of the programme, the club plans to deliver a range of newcomer events and activities, alongside initiatives aimed at helping participants progress from their first experience of orienteering to becoming active club members. A particular emphasis will be placed on creating welcoming experiences for beginners and developing clear pathways for ongoing participation and personal development. Specific activities include:
- Newcomer orientated ‘blocks’ of 3 local events in the same locality, linked to appropriate classic events in the Club’s fixture list (e.g. Saturday Park events).
- Summer evening City Street O style series of events aimed at young adults / students.
- Partnership initiative working with specific groups, clubs or commercial organisations to introduce and generate interest in orienteering among communities with aligned interests (e.g. running, outdoor activity).
- Incorporation of ‘Red courses for runners’ at conventional events and events targeted at young adult newcomers.
The Orienteering Foundation recognised the project's strong alignment with its objectives of enhancing participation in the sport and supporting innovative approaches to growth. By combining effective marketing, new event formats and efficient delivery methods, the programme has the potential to provide a sustainable model that can benefit the wider orienteering community.
We wish MDOC every success with the project and looks forward to following its progress and sharing the lessons learned with the wider orienteering community