Volunteer News and Updates

Especially relevant to: Area/Group Secretaries, Area/Group Chairmen, Area/Group Publicity Officers and everyone involved in organising and publicising Ramblers walking festivals
Posted: 3 February 2012
For information and action: New festival materials and how to order them.

Especially Relevant To: all volunteers Date Posted: 1 February 2012 For Information: A greeting from our new Chief Executive

Relevant to: Access and Footpath Officers. Posted: 1st February 2012. For information: A new charitable trust has been set up to look after English and Welsh rivers and canals.

Especially relevant to: Area and Group Treasurers.
Posted: 30 January 2012.
For information and action: Dates have provisionally been set for three Treasurer training sessions between March and May.

Especially relevant to: All Walking Environment Volunteers
Posted: 25 January 2012
For information: The Walking Environment Team have published a new factsheet on Dealing with rights of way problems at equestrian establishments and other places where horses are kept.

Especially relevant to: All Volunteers in the Northern Home Counties
Posted: 24 January 2012
For information: We are delighted to announce the appointment of our new Regional Membership Marketing Officer, Sam Newby-Ricci

Especially relevant to: All Volunteers
Posted: 25 January 2012
For information: The Big Volunteer Survey 2012. This is an opportunity for all Ramblers Volunteers to tell us what you think.

Especially relevant to: Pathwork Team Coordinators and Footpath Secretaries
Posted: 23 January 2012
For information and action: The Ramblers and Ramblers Holiday Charitable Trust have launched a new pathwork fund to help Areas and Groups with the cost of equipment and training

Especially relevant to: Area Treasurers.
Posted: 23rd January 2012.
For information and action: Request for new members of the Area Treasurer Sounding Board (ATSB).

Especially relevant to footpath secretaries. Posted 19/01/12. For information: A map of Ramblers path successes that were reported to us between 0ctober 2011 and December 2011.

Especially relevant to: Area and Group Treasurers.
Posted: 9 January 2012.
For information and action: Treasurer training sessions are due to take place in spring 2012

Especially relevant to: Area and Group volunteers in England concerned with led walks and promoting walking.
Posted: 19 December 2011
For information: The Ramblers has submitted a bid to Natural England, the Department of Health and Macmillan Cancer Support to become the host of the national centre of Walking for Health in England.

Especially relevant to: Area Chairs and Secretaries, Group Chairs and Secretaries
Published: 9th December 2011
News: Summary of the Board meeting on the weekend of 2nd and 3rd December
Published: 9th December 2011

Especially relevant to: Led walks and membership recruitment volunteers
Published: 7 December 2011
For information: A new analysis of walks listed on the Group Walks Finder gives an insight into Ramblers led walks programme.

Especially relevant to: Area/Group Footpath Secretaries, Access Officers, Countryside Secretaries, Walking Environment Officers, and others working on Walking Environment issues.
Posted: 6 December 2011.
News and action request: Update from the Walking Environment team.

Especially relevant to: Path Order Recipients. Posted: 6th December. For information: A new feedback form has been created to get a better understanding of the good work that volunteers are doing in responding to consultations.

Especially relevant to: Area and Group volunteers and Ramblers. Posted: 2nd December 2011 For information: Extra discount from Cotswold Outdoor for Ramblers members.

Relevant to: Footpath Secretaries, Access Officers and Countryside Secretaries
Published: 23 November 2011
For Information: The latest version of the Rights of way Volunteer Handbook has now been published.

Especially relevant to: Area and Group volunteers in England concerned with led walks and promoting walking.
Posted: 16 November 2011
For information: Natural England and the Department of Health have published an invitation to tender for Walking for Health, and announced a potential future funder.

Especially relevant to: Area/Group chairs and secretaries. Posted: 15 November 2011. For information: Get Walking Keep Walking short video launched.

Especially relevant to: Area/Group Footpath Secretaries, Access Officers, Countryside Secretaries, Walking Environment Officers, and others working on Walking Environment issues. Posted: 8 November 2011.
News and action request: Update from the Walking Environment team.

Especially relevant to: Walking Environment Volunteers
Posted: 8 November 2011
For information: New training dates for walking environment training have now been announced.

Especially relevant to: volunteers interested in our forestry campaign.
Posted: 31st October 2011.
For information: An update on Walk in the Woods Week and our "Save our Woodland Walks" campaign

Especially relevant to: All volunteers
Posted: 27 October 2011
For information and action. Volunteers are invited to take part in a user survey now live on the Ramblers website as part of our web development project.

Especially relevant to: Area Chairs and Secretaries
Posted: 25th October 2011
Summary: To notify Areas that, in line with Ramblers rules, the positions of Chair and Honorary Treasurer will be filled at General Council 2012, and to invite anyone interested in either post to submit their cv and covering letter to a panel of the Board, for consideration, by 7th November.

Especially relevant to: Led walks programme coordinators, walk leaders, Group Walks Finder editors, webmasters and other volunteers involved with led walks.
Posted: 25 October 2011
For information. On 13 October Farnham Ramblers led the 200,000th walk listed on the Ramblers Group Walks Finder since the system launched in 2002.

Especially relevant to: Ramblers volunteers involved in organising activities for the wider membership and the public.
Posted: 18 October 2011
For information and action. Minor changes to our policy and guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults include enabling Areas and Groups to issue Parental Consent Cards.

Especially relevant to: Membership Secretaries, Secretaries and Chairs
Posted: 18 October 2011
For Information: New guidance on data protection has now been published

Relevant to: Countryside officers/walking environment Officers and footpath secretaries and access officers.
For Information: Read the ramblers full response to The Governments proposed changes to the national planning polices which frame the development of local authority plans.
Published: 17 October 2011

Especially relevant to: Area and Group volunteers in England concerned with led walks and promoting walking.
Posted: 12 October 2011
For information: The Ramblers continues to express an interest in hosting the ‘national centre’ of the Walking for Health project as the divestment process continues.

Meetings across Britain for volunteers with the Chair and Chief Executive this autumn.
Event: posted 12 October

Especially relevant to: Local Ramblers webmasters, Group Walks Finder editors and other volunteers interested in website and internet work
Posted: 11 October 2011
For information and action. Applications are invited for membership of the Web Development Advisory Panel to help provide volunteer input into our web development project.

Walking Environment Update - October 2011
Especially relevant to: Area/Group Footpath Secretaries, Access Officers, Countryside Secretaries, Walking Environment Officers, and others working on Walking Environment issues. Posted: 10 October 2011.
News and action request: Update from the Walking Environment team.

Especially relevant to: Area Chairs and Secretaries; General Council delegates, Agenda Committee members
Posted: 30th September 2011
Summary: The Board of Trustees has decided to begin publishing its agreed minutes, starting with its meeting in July 2011. Although certain confidential information will be removed, the governing principle is one of openness, and exceptions are kept to a minimum.

Especially relevant to: Area and Group Chairs, Area and Group Secretaries, Group and Area Programme Coordinators.
Posted: 29 September 2011
Summary: Due to changes to the internal Group coding systems, some specialist group Short Codes will be changing.

Especially relevant to: GC delegates, Agenda Committee members, Area Chairs and Secretaries
Posted: 27th September
Summary: A half-term report on progress with the resolutions from General Council 2011

Especially relevant to: All volunteers and others interested in the work of the Ramblers
Posted: 27 September 2011
For information: Tom Franklin, Ramblers Chief Executive, has announced he is stepping on from Ramblers to the next challenge that lies ahead.

Especially relevant to: Area and Group Committee Members, General Council delegates, Agenda committee members
Posted: 26th September 2011
News: a summary of the decisions taken at the Board of Trustees meeting in September

Especially relevant to: Area/Group Footpath Secretaries, Area/Group Countryside Secretaries, Area/Group Access Officers and Publicity Officers
Posted: 20 September 2011
For information: New factsheet published by the Walking Enviroment team on waymarking on a public right of way is now available

Meetings across Britain for volunteers with the Chair and Chief Executive this autumn. Events: posted 20 September 2011

Relevant to: All volunteers and members
Published 12 September 2011
For information: Flexigroup briefing session – 11 October 2012

Relevant to: All volunteers and members
Published 12 September 2011
For information: The flexigroup pilot phase deadline has been extended

Especially relevant to All volunteers.
Published 2 September 2011
For information -- The Ramblers is supporting Walk4Life Day in England and Wales with a series of media events.

Especially relevant to: all volunteers distributing Ramblers recruitment leaflets
Date Posted: 1 September 2011
New resource: New recruitment leaflets, valid from 1 October 2011, replacing all previous leaflets.

Especially relevant to: Countryside Secretaries/Walking Environment Officers. May be of interest to Footpath Secretaries and Access Officers.
Date Posted: 31st August 2011
For Information

Especially relevant to: Area and Group Treasurers.
Published: 26 August 2011.
For information and action: Annual return packs for 2010/11 have been distributed to Area and Group Treasurers.

Especially relevant to: Area and Group Treasurers.
Published: 23 August 2011.
For information: The guidance for Treasurers has been updated.

Especially relevant to: All Area and Group committee members
Published: 22 August 2011
For information. Further to the announcement on 18 August 2011 of the new partnership arrangements between the Ramblers and HF Holidays Limited we are providing the following summary of the context behind this new partnership. We hope this will deal with many of the questions raised since the announcement was made.

Especially relevant to: All volunteers interested in promoting walking projects
Published: 22 August 2011
For information: The Get Walking Keep Walking project promoting everyday walking is to be extended to Leicester.

Especially relevant to: Area/Group Footpath Secretaries, Access Officers, Countryside Secretaries, Walking Environment Officers, and others working on Walking Environment issues. Posted: 19 August 2011. News and action request: Update from the Walking Environment team.

Especially Relevant to: All Volunteers
Published: 18 August 2011
For information: HF Holidays is the Ramblers new recommended walking holiday partner

Especially relevant to: Footpath Secretaries, Access Officers, Walking Environment Officer and Countryside Secretaries.
Published: 17 August 2011
For information: Following on from a review of the journal Footpath worker there have been some changes to the way it will be circulated in future.

Especially relevant to: Footpath and Access Officers
Published: 1st August 2011
For information: The Ramblers are concerned about the future of an All-England Coastal Route and are asking volunteers to take action over the summer to lobby for a commitment to the program

Especially relevant to: Footpath Secretaries, Access Officers, Walking Environment Officers and Countryside Secretaries
Published: 7 July 2011
For Information: The Ramblers have, today, formally responded to the Independent Forestry Panel’s “Call for Views” and is urging the Panel to “have a heart of access as well as oak”. The Ramblers response outlines why the Public Forest Estate needs to remain in public hands as it offers the best model for ensuring people can use and enjoy England’s fo

Especially Relevant to: Ramblers Volunteers
Published: 6 July 2011
For Information: The latest Volunteer survey report can now be viewed and there is an opportunity to take a further part in the feedback process.

Relevant to: Walk leaders, Led Walks Coordinators, Membership Secretaries, Publicity Officers, Newsletter Editors, Campaigners
For Information and action: Ramblers on Facebook

Especially relevant to: Volunteers involved in organising led walks including walk leaders, Walking Environment campaigners
Published: 28 June 2011
For action: Resources enabling Ramblers volunteers to participate in Walk in the Woods Week between 3-9 October 2011 are now available online.

Especially relevant to: Walk Leaders and Members
Published: 16 June 2011
For information: The Ramblers have launched a 999 campaign, urging Ambulance Trusts across the country to ensure that they can pinpoint distressed walkers, or anyone dialing 999, no matter their location.

Especially relevant to: Area/Group Footpath Secretaries, Access Officers, Countryside Secretaries, and others working on Walking Environment issues.
Posted: 8 June 2011.
News and action request: Update from the Walking Environment team.

Relevant To: Group/Area Officers, Walk leaders, Led Walks Co-ordinators, Group/Area Footpath Secretaries, Group/Area Access Officers, Group/Area Countryside Secretaries/Walking Environment Officers
Published: 8 June 2011
For Information: With a just over a year to go before the Olympics the Ramblers are inviting Groups/Areas to get involved in a number of differant intiatives based around the Olympic theme

Relevant to: Walk leaders, Led Walks Coordinators, Campaigners
Publiched: 8 June 2011
For Information: Share information on walks and campaigns on a new Ramblers Facebook page

Especially relevant to: All volunteers planning future local walks and other activities.
Posted: 6 June 2011
For information.
A new section on the Ramblers volunteering web pages collects together information about forthcoming national events and festivals.

Especially Relevant to: Group/Area Footpath Secretaries, Pathwork Coordinators and Practical Pathworkers
Published: 3 June 2011
For Information: On the 25th August 2011 the Walking Environment Team will be running a workshop for members of the Ramblers who are actively involved in, or would like to be actively involved in, collaborative working with the Local Authority to keep Rights of Way open and accessible.

Especially relevant to: Area Treasurers, Area Chairs, Area Secretaries, Group Treasurers, Group Chairs, Group Secretaries.
Posted: 2 June 2011.
For information and action: Budgeting packs have been sent out to Areas.

Especially relevant to all volunteers involved in organising led walks.
Posted 1 June 2011
For information.
The second issue of our enewsletter for walk leaders, The Leader Column, has just been published.

Relevant to: All volunteers and members
Published: 26 May 2011
For information: A new and more flexible form of local structure, the ‘easygroup’, is being piloted within the Ramblers as a means of helping provide a more varied walks programme and attracting more members.

Relevant to: Walk Leaders and Members
Posted: 27 May 2011
For Information: Update following April’s request for members to contact us if they had experienced a delay in an ambulance attending the scene of an incident due to control room staff being unable to interpret grid reference locations.

Especially relevant to: Area and Group Committee Members, General Council delegates, Agenda Committee members
Posted: 24th May 2011
News: a summary of the decisions taken at the Board of Trustees meeting in May

Especially relevant to: Area Treasurers, Area Chairs, Area Secretaries, Group Treasurers, Group Chairs, Group Secretaries.
Posted: 6 May 2011.
For information and action: The timetable has been set for the 2011/12 Area and Group budgeting process.

Especially relevant to: volunteers organising walking and promotional activities.
Posted: 6 May 2011
For information and action: Festival of Winter Walks dates will run from 24 December 2011 to 2 January 2012.

Especially relevant to: Area/Group Footpath Secretaries, Access Officers, Countryside Secretaries, and others working on Walking Environment issues.
Posted: 4 May 2011.
News and action request: Update from the Walking Environment team.

Especially relevant to: Walk Leaders and Members
Posted: 26 April 2011
For Information: The Ramblers have been contacted by a number of Groups who have suffered a delay in an ambulance attending the scene of an incident due to control room staff being unable to interpret grid reference locations. We would like to hear from you if you have experience of this.

Especially relevant to: Area/Group Footpath Secretaries, Area/Group Access Officers, Local Access Forum Members, and others working on Walking Environment issues.
Posted: 14 April 2011.
For action: Please give us your comments on the Ramblers draft response to a consultation on the transformation of British Waterways into a new waterways charity.

Especially relevant to: volunteers interested in planning and publicising walking routes.
Posted: 13 April 2011
For information: Advance news of a new project to make it easier for volunteers to develop and share walking routes.

Especially relevant to: Area Membership Secretaries, Chairs and Publicity Officers
Posted 7 April 2011
For information: A breakdown of Ramblers members by Area for the beginning of April 2011

Especially relevant to: All volunteers
Posted: 4th April 2011
For information: New discounted holiday offers from Ramblers Worldwide Holidays.

Relevant to: All Walking Environment Volunteers
Covering: Stories published in 2011
For Information: On this page you can find the latest updates from the Walking Environment Team published in 2011.

News stories published on the volunteer section between April and June 2010 (News Archive - Posted July 2010.)

Relevant to: All Volunteers
Covering: Stories published in January, February and March 2011
For Information: On this page you can find all the updates published between January and March 2011

Relevant to: All Walking Environment Volunteers
Covering: Stories published in 2010
For Information: On this page you can find the latest updates from the Walking Environment Team published in 2010.

News Stories from October, November and December 2011 Relevant to: All Volunteers Covering: Stories published between October and December 2010 For Information: On this page you can find all the updates published between October and December 2010

News stories published on the volunteer section between July and September 2009. (News archive - 3 February 2010)

News stories published on the volunteer section between July and September 2010 (News Archive - posted October 2010).

Thoughts and reflections from the Chief Executive

Read a brief summary of previous meetings of the Board of Trustees.

Read archived news stories published between January and March 2010.

News stories published on the volunteer section between October and December 2009. (News archive - 2 May 2008)