Happy Volunteers Week 2024!

It's Volunteers Week 2024! This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Week, however we know that volunteering has been the beating heart of our sport since the inception of British Orienteering back in 1967.

Images L-R: Tim Pugh (GO) who has been an active orienteering  organiser for more than 40 years! He was also the Event Director for a World Cup round held in the south London area in 2005. This picture of Tim was taken at the 1994 British Championships at Goodwood (credit: Ned Paul/CompassSport Magazine); Control Card checking at the 1990 November Classic (credit: Di Smith/CompassSport Magazine); Download tent at the 2006 November Classic (credit: David Smith/CompassSport Magazine). 

Not only do our volunteers work tirelessly to put on a variety of events for their members and national clubs to enjoy, they bring in newcomers to the sport by hosting come and try it events and setting up permanent and virtual orienteering courses for all to enjoy.

There is always an opportunity to get involved within your club and volunteer, particularly if you are looking for ways to gain new skills such as planning, organising, coaching and mapping. Volunteering is also a great way to boost your confidence, meet new people and add to your CV especially if you are just starting out in your career and need some experience!

Images L-R: Volunteers at the British Individual Sprint Championship Qualifiers 2022; Junior volunteers from SYO at the Yvette Baker Shield and Trophy Final 2023; Two volunteers from (FVO and MDOC) at the Scottish 6 Days 2023. All credited to Wendy Carlyle.

Find out how to get involved here. 

Here is to all our volunteers within the sport: the game changers, the masterminds behind the planning and coordinating processes; those who are always happily the first ones to arrive at an event and the last to leave - THANK YOU!

Images L-R: A volunteer at the British Sprint Champ Qualifiers 2022 (credit: Wendy Carlyle); Volunteers from LEI at JK 2024 (credit: Alex Welch); and a volunteer greets newcomers trying out orienteering for the first time (credit: Neil Harrison).