British Orienteering's Development Conference - January 2022
On Monday British Orienteering was delighted to kick off the 2022 Development Conference with a session on Engaging and Retaining Young People, presented by Fran Loots a Regional Development Officer from the Scottish Orienteering Association. This was an interactive session where delegates were able to share as well as take some ideas back to our clubs. This first session was fully booked so a waiting list has been made for an additional session which Fran has very kindly offered to present on Wednesday 2 February – and this session is already filling up.
It was Pauline Tryner’s turn on Thursday evening to help focus our attention on Creating a Whole Club Experience. With her unique perspective as the Club Development Officer, Pauline talked through the development journey of her club, South Yorkshire Orienteers. One main message from this was, South Yorkshire Orienteers is not the same club now as it was 10 years ago and it does require persistent effort – if at first, you don’t succeed, try, try and try again – not using the same methods each time but evolve your efforts and ideas. Also, focus your efforts on one thing at a time within your capabilities.
Both these sessions were recorded and will be available to watch shortly on the British Orienteering Webinar page under Training & Support.
This coming week there are three sessions planned. On Monday (17 January) we can look forward to hearing about the work of the Orienteering Foundation to help clubs with Retaining Beginner Orienteers. It will be great to hear from Neil Cameron who will flesh out the bones of the Newcomer Retention Project report which Clubs will have recently received.
Tuesday's session (18 January) uses the case study of Cleveland Orienteering Klub, looking at the value of employing a Club Development Officer (CDO) and the process of how clubs can go about this using Orienteering Foundation support.
In the third session of the week, on Wednesday (19 January), we will be looking at Access and Permissions through the eyes of an ecologist and landowner, Forestry England. A better understanding and good working relationship will hopefully advise and support clubs with future applications.
This coming week we have just shy of 200 people registered to attend the sessions – there are still places, so why not sign up now!
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