Volunteering for the Ramblers is not just about leading standard walks, reporting path problems or sitting on committees – although all these activities are essential to our work. The wide range of activity going on out in our Area and Group network is innovative and impressive. Read about some excellent Group volunteering projects that meet our charitable aims in very different ways -- you may be inspired to start a new project of your own!
Promoting Walking
The Ramblers is often seen as a network of cliquey walking groups whose members march at breakneck speed through the countryside over marathon distances. Not so! One of our key charitable aims is to promote walking to everyone as a healthy, everyday activity. Here are just a few examples of what our volunteers are doing to promote walking to a wider audience:
Films on Foot Festival - film-themed walks in London
Monday Club – walks via public transport for older people
Northumbria Short Circuits – short walks for busy people
Bunny Walks – fun, easy routes for children
Walk descriptions for local newspapers
Improving Access to the Countryside
Our landscape is not open to all. There are barriers everywhere, both physical and legislative. We campaign to increase and protect public access to the countryside for recreational enjoyment. We won the Right to Roam and are now campaigning for access to the coast. Here are some local initiatives making the countryside more accessible:
East Berkshire Group – replacing inaccessible stiles
Protecting Public Rights of Way
All too often Britain's unique network of public paths are illegally blocked, obstructed and overgrown. Ramblers members campaign to ensure they are open, usable and a pleasure to walk on. Read about some different approaches our volunteers have taken in looking after our footpaths.
Adopt-a-Parish scheme
Communicating our work and activities
Our members – and the public – need know what we’re doing. Effective communication is key in ensuring that our members have a sense of belonging and connect with our work, whether at local Group level, as part of an Area or nationally. And we can only recruit new members by telling people about our work. Volunteers who manage communication tools like websites and newsletters are making sure our voice is heard at every opportunity.
Developing and managing websites
Editing a newsletter
Volunteers training volunteers
There is no magic formula for recruiting and retaining volunteers, but offering good quality training and support for the role will certainly help. Training and support can be provided by fellow volunteers keen to share their skills and experience, be it leading walks or computer literacy. Ramblers Groups have all sorts of methods for ensuring all that knowledge gets around!
Walk Leader training
