WCOC Club Development Officer second year support
We are pleased to award further funding to West Cumberland Orienteering Club (WCOC) to continue its Club Development Officer (CDO) role into 2026, following a successful first year that delivered strong growth in participation and membership among younger adult orienteers.
West Cumberland Orienteering Club has completed the first year of its Club Development Officer project, originally supported jointly by the North West Orienteering Association, the Orienteering Foundation, and the club itself. The initiative set out to increase participation and membership in age groups up to and including M/W35, with a particular emphasis on engaging local running communities. Their end‑of‑year report showed membership in the target age groups had increased by 21% compared to the end of 2024, with especially strong growth among M/W21–35.
Participation at WCOC’s weekly local events also rose, with the club noting that these account for around 85% of total runs at WCOC events over the course of a year. This is great progress, including a notable uplift in under‑40 attendance at local fixtures. WCOC made good use of eye-catching promotional graphics, to help attract those from outside mainstream orienteering - see examples beside this article. However, it hasn't all be easy, and they face continuing challenge of declining numbers at regional events, a trend seen across many clubs.
Building on this positive foundation, the Orienteering Foundation has approved a second year of support for 2026 (which is again complemented by NWOA funding). WCOC plans to refine the project’s focus, shifting towards junior development while maintaining the gains achieved in 2025. The club’s objective for the coming year is to increase participation among juniors up to M/W18 by at least 20%, while sustaining engagement among the M/W19–35 cohort.
We are delighted to continue supporting WCOC’s proactive and evidence‑based approach to club development, and looks forward to seeing the impact of the expanded junior‑focused programme in 2026.