As part of our celebrations of Volunteer Week in 2021, we want to say a BIG thank you to our SOA Board of Directors. They have kept us on track and focused throughout lockdown and provided valued expertise as we emerge as a sport to capitalise on new opportunities, partnerships and ensure our focus remains on supporting our clubs and coordinating a balanced and high quality events calendar. We really do appreciate your contribution and continued commitment to Scottish Orienteering.
With a gradual easing of Covid restrictions it has been fantastic to be able to help get a series of after-school orienteering sessions up and running in Fort William this term. The sessions have been organised by Fort William Active Schools Co-ordinator, Bridget Thomas, together with Iain Murray, and have enabled a first taster of the sport to be delivered to some 27 youngsters, ahead of the planned Scottish 6-Day event this summer.
The sessions have been based at Kilmallie Community Centre using one of a set of new maps, which have been specially produced to support development work in Lochaber, and co-funded by the Orienteering Foundation and SOA. The Kilmallie map offers a great space to learn the basic orienteering skills in a compact and safe setting. Here’s hoping we might see some of these smiling faces at the 6-day event in a couple of months’ time!
A note from the Scottish 6 Days Chair, Dave Kerhsaw, on the decisions being made around Lochaber 2021.
We have some positive news to announce – the Scottish Government has confirmed that outdoor events such as Lochaber 2021 can go ahead though, unsurprisingly, there are conditions to be met which may not be in place in time for the event to take place.
What a fabulous day for the first round of the Scottish Junior Cup at Auchingarrich yesterday! Well done to all the juniors especially and I hope everyone else enjoyed a run out on the Open classes.
And it’s Green for Go! Final details for the first round of the Scottish Junior Cup at Auchingarrich this Sunday, 30th May, are now available for download.
The Kickstart scheme, developed by UK Government, provides funding for employers to create job placements for young adults 16-24 on Universal Credit – if this is you or you’re a student aged 18 or about to turn 18 this could be your route into employment. We are seeking individuals who are passionate about sport, developing pathways and partnerships and are willing to work as part of our team. We have funding in place for an immediate start for 6 month contract in the following roles:
There have been some great development ideas put forward by clubs to the SOA Development Fund and Restart Coaching Support Fund and we are delighted to be helping clubs to move a number of these projects forward. Further funding is still available and we would like to encourage other clubs to consider how they could benefit from putting together some similar project plans. Applications will therefore still be welcomed to both the SOA Development Fund and Restart Coaching Support Fund 2021 up until 30th June 2021.
Don’t forget also that the Orienteering Foundation also has funds available to support orienteering and there is a portion of this which is ring-fenced for Scottish applications, especially where it can be used towards supporting the “developing orienteer” i.e. youth and young adults up to around 25 years old.
Please contact sarah@scottish-orienteering.org for further information or to discuss or submit proposals.
Below is an overview of the projects that SOA funding has supported so far this year:
Are you a keen photographer? Or do you love getting action shots? or the details that make a local event so special. We are looking for your orienteering photos of any aspect of our sport – action, event, club social, podium or humorous. Hungry to compete! Glory* and publication awaits!
*One of the photos highly commended last year won CompassSport cover of the year 2020!
The SOA would like to thank Tim O’Donoghue (SOLWAY) for all this work to provide simplified and usable risk assessment templates. As guidance continues to evolve and local authorities more between different levels it has been necessary to put in place risk assessments to reflect the different restrictions at each level. We hope these are of help to clubs and coaches. Should you have any feedback on the risk assessments please contact safety@scottish-orienteering.org
