As you may be aware there have been staffing changes over the past year or so with Sarah Dunn leaving her post as Development Manager and Regional Development Officer for the North last May. The post of Development Officer East was also vacant and had been vacant for some time. We recruited Heidi Ross to the position of Development Officer in September 2022 and Fran Loots as Development Manager in addition to the West. Times of change allow for revisiting how to do things and changes have been made accordingly.
Another group of Young Coach Assistants has just completed their training, this time at Glenmore Lodge. The weather, which had threatened to be absolutely foul, was kind to us and, although we started off indoors by mapping the bar area whilst the snow melted, we soon moved outside to deliver practical coaching exercises.
The 2023 Veteran Home Internationals (VHIs) are taking place in Mallards Pike, Forest of Dean on 30th Sept. – 1st Oct. The selection panel of Will Hensman, Fanni Gyurko and Janice Nesbit have identified six events in the orienteering calendar which will be used inform their selections for the VHIs this year.
2022 Scottish VHI Team Photo Credit: Fran Loots
For more information on the events being used for selections, courses which should be run and who to contact if there are extenuating circumstances or you are unable to travel to events can be found in the 2023 VHI Selection Policy
Looking for a challenge? Scottish Athletics have announced their Junior Hill League.
Hill running can be a great way to improve your orienteering fitness. Many orienteers regularly challenge for the titles and sometimes hill runners take up orienteering too. Just to name a few ….Pippa Carcas and Claire Ward Interlopers; Angela Mudge, Grace Molloy, Graham Gristwood, Andy Kitchen FVO; Murray Strain ELO.
As part of the “Making the Most of WOC2024” project being undertaken by Baroudeur Consultancy on behalf of SOA and BOF, you are invited to join the Baroudeur team for an update on their research so far.
The team will
– Share initial insights and themes from their interviews and survey
– Give the opportunity to feed back on some early ideas and areas for development
– Update on progress, next steps and opportunities to get involved
We are delighted that thanks to funding support from the Orienteering Foundation, Scottish Orienteering and Moravian, the club are now seeking to appoint a part-time Club Development Officer(CDO). For more information check out their website.
MORAVIAN juniors a few years ago…some now heading towards being seniors!
I am delighted to announce that Nikki Howard has been appointed as the new Chief Operating Officer for the Scottish Orienteering Association.
Many of you will know Nikki already both as a competitor and a member of Moravian Orienteering Club. During the past year Nikki has also been employed by the SOA as the Events & Operations Manager and Assistant Coordinator for the Scottish 6 Days.
We were very pleased with the number of very high quality applications we received for the post which reflects on the exciting times that lie ahead with the World Orienteering Championships coming to Scotland in 2024.
We’ll announce plans for Nikki’s current SOA and 6 Days work in due course. In the meantime please give Nikki your support as she takes on her new role.
The idea of competitive pairs was mooted last year and we were delighted when Edinburgh University readily agreed to trial the concept at their Big Weekend. So why would anyone be interested in running in a competitive pair? It turns out there are lots of reasons!
The Scottish Orienteering Association are seeking help from someone with experience of equality and/or safeguarding procedures in a work or club environment to help with the role of Director of Welfare. This role is crucial to the development of orienteering and to ensure orienteering is a safe, welcoming and inclusive sport for all.
As Director you would be working with the SOA Chief Operating Officer to provide advice and support in implementing appropriate equality, diversity, safeguarding and PVG practices. We are looking for either a member of the orienteering community or someone from outwith orienteering who can bring alternative experience to this role.
Could you can help guide SOA strategy to ensure that orienteering is a safe, welcoming and inclusive sport for all and help to increase participation from under represented groups and communities? More information about the role can be found here and any questions about what is involved should be directed to Keith Dawson chair@scottish-orienteering.org
In 2022 we revisitalised the Young Leaders Program. The program now comprises three components for young planners (age 12+), young coaching assistants (age 14+) and young organisers (age 16+). We spoke to our young leaders about what they would like as a form of recognition. The Young Leaders said they would like a buff.
Therefore we are opening up a competition for Juniors to design a buff for the Young Leaders. To enter, design a buff with a different colour variation for each type of young leader. We want the buff to be instantly identifiable as a Young Leader’s buff with a colour variation for each role.
