Impact: How our clubs have benefited from the Find Your Way Project (Part 1)

The Find Your Way Project is a Sport England funded initiative to introduce young people and families to our sport, particularly those from socially disadvantaged areas.

It's key aim is to encourage people to be more active using orienteering and engage with their local green spaces through the fantastic app, MapRun.

The funding, separate from our National Governing Body Sport England funding, was successfully granted in late 2021 and offers British Orienteering the opportunity to reach new communities by creating local community and national partnerships, newly mapped areas and more courses and activities accessible to all.

Here, we showcase the benefits of the project from some of the the club's perspective.

East Pennine Orienteering Club

From attending local community events to promote the sport of orienteering, to building new partnerships allowing new schools to be mapped across their local area, East Pennine Orienteering Club have been able to use funding from the project to successfully promote events and expand on growth. 

Download the PDF to read the full list of benefits.

Wimborne and Wessex Orienteers

Jason Falconer has co-ordinated the FYW Project across Dorset on behalf of Wimborne Orienteers and Wessex Orienteers since the Project began in 2021. In addition to making multiple connections with local community groups such as NHS Dorset, local GP's and Scout Leaders, the Project has reached many schools across the country. 

Download the PDF to read the full list of benefits. 

Dartford Orienteers and SAXONS Orienteering Club

Dartford Orienteers and SAXONS Orienteering Club have jointly worked on the FYW Project across London and Kent since 2019. In addition to working with national charities such as SENSE and MENCAP, they have forged quality links with local councils and Active Partnerships. The FYW Project has brought the neighbouring clubs closer with their joint work, opening up access to new areas, links with local School Games Organisers and creating a new Kent Schools Orienteering Newsletter.

Recently, Dartford Orienteers and SAXONS Orienteering Club have been awarded the British Schools Orienteering Competition in 2024, and thanks to FYW activities with Kent County Council at Shorne Woods, the usual participant entry fees at this location have been waived as a gesture of thanks from the council.

Download the PDF to read the full list of benefits. 

FYW Project clubs have benefited from enhanced local partnerships e.g. working with local authorities and other similar organisations using their resources and contacts, social media assistance, promotion and resources, fully funded member and community training and free mapping of areas which the club can use for their own future events and training.

We are thankful to Sport England for such a fantastic opportunity to make our sport wider known across new communities, School and Active Partnerships and Local Authorities, and we are pleased to share how our FYW clubs have benefited from the funding-which continues into 2024!