Newcomer Retention
Attracting and retaining newcomers in orienteering is often a challenge to many clubs. To help address this, in 2021 the Orienteering Foundation formed a "Newcomer Retention Group" to look at the problem and make recommendations to clubs.
The group's remit was as follows:
- Define "orienteering newcomer", and define and research the current retention rate
- Define "regular participants", and research and quantify reasons why newcomers do not become regular participants
- Identify and document examples of good practice in dealing with newcomers
- Make recommendations designed to improve retention of orienteering newcomers
- If appropriate, identify follow-up work that could be considered
- Produce a written report on the group's work and conclusions
The group was established consisting of the following members:
- Neil Cameron (NGOC) - Chair
- Mairi Eades (INT/EUOC)
- Jon Eaton (WCOC)
- Ian Gamlen (COBOC/HOC)
- Kay Hawke (PFO)
- Ingebjørg Holmedal (OROX)
- Carol Iddles (BOK)
- Bertie Kingsley (OROX)
They covered a variety of perspectives, backgrounds, and demographics, and their collective experience included being a club chair, dealing with newcomers at schools, using social media, running a university club, researching what attracts people to try orienteering and to stay involved, and being a membership secretary.
The group published its final report in late 2021. A copy was to the chair of each open club in British Orienteering, but you can also download a copy here. The report has 14 pages plus 10 pages of Appendices and includes:
- Good Practice recommendations when dealing with newcomers (or “beginners” as the group prefers to call them)
- Information from “mystery” visits made to three club events to assess the reality “on the ground” at the events
- Conclusions from a survey of 84 club website beginner sections (each club has already been sent their own survey)
- A checklist that clubs can use to review their approach to beginners
- Recommendations for future follow-on work
The chair of the Newcomer Retention Group, Neil Cameron, said:
The Group hope that the report will encourage clubs to review their approach to dealing with newcomers/beginners and make changes where appropriate.
The chair of the Orienteering Foundation, Andrew Evans, went on to add:
This is a hugely worthwhile contribution to the development of orienteering in an area which appears absolutely fundamental to us all. I commend the skill and dedication by which the NRG group has proceeded, and for developing the high quality final report.
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