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Dear Volunteer,
Success in East Sussex
Click on the picture above to view a 4-minute ‘video log’ on YouTube from me about the recent footpath success in Withyham in East Sussex, and the importance of recording all local footpath successes. It helps with our campaigning, and with recruiting members. The video shows you how to record footpath successes – which you can do by following the link here. It's my first attempt at doing a video, so it is a little rough around the edges! Feedback is always welcome - you can use the link at the bottom of this page.
Islwyn website
My ‘unsung hero’ award for March goes to Islwyn Ramblers, and in particular their webmaster, Phil Jenkins, for a great website. Click on the picture to talk a look - particularly good are the Talk of the Walk features.
Ramblers groups websites are quite a mixed bag. There are some fantastic ones, but others are a bit basic. With more and more new members coming via the web, your website is the equivalent of your shop front so it is really worthwhile making it look good.
Walks finder
While I’m on the subject of websites, thanks to everyone who uploads walks to the Ramblers walksfinder. Both members and non-members use this to help decide which walks they take part in. But I was amazed to discover that about 25% of Ramblers walks are not put up onto walksfinder at all. That is a waste – there are people who might join the Ramblers if only they knew about walks that we put on in their local neighbourhood. If your group doesn’t advertise all your walks on walksfinder, why not start doing so? Get in touch with the walksfinder volunteers, Brenda and Chris, who will be very happy to give you support.
AGMs out and about
It's been great to meet up with so many volunteers at AGMs. The picture on the right is from the Warwickshire AGM (where there were nearly 200 people, and we had a great town walk around Stratford-upon-Avon); and the one on the left from Hampshire AGM (where the walk was on the border of the South Downs National Park).
Keeping our led walks a jewel in our crown
Whilst on the subject of the Ramblers led walks, I wanted to say something about the future of the led walks programme – which for some volunteers will be welcomed, and for others may be controversial.
Each year, thousands of volunteers put on a programme of 28,000 led walks. We reckon that about half a million individual walks are enjoyed with the Ramblers each year. They are one of the jewels in the Ramblers crown, and I feel humbled when I hear about the work which is involved in putting them on.
In 2006, we commissioned a led walks expert called Bob Barton to undertake a review of the Ramblers led walks. He concluded that he was very impressed by what he saw and heard, but that we did need to take more notice about issues such as safety.
Since 2006, we have set up a small led walks team of two members of staff, who provide help and guidance on led walks issues, and we have emphasised the importance of reporting incidents when they happen. Walking is generally a very safe activity, and most incidents are minor, but sometimes things go seriously wrong. The team issued a case study of one such incident recently. They have also re-issued the walk leader’s checklist, with basic first aid information.
In the recent volunteers survey, two thirds of walk leaders said that they wanted more opportunity for training, and we’re currently discussing options for this. We’re looking to focus on those who lead walks on remote and challenging terrain, but I also hope in the long run that we can ensure all walk leaders get the training they want.
We’ll very soon be consulting with groups on this, and we’re also going to release the Bob Barton report.. It is a very controversial subject. Some volunteers tell me that they want more training opportunities. Others tell me that if we introduce training, they will stop leading walks for the Ramblers. We’ll need to tread with great care. But it is a discussion which we need to have.
We’ll also be reprinting the walk leaders checklist soon, and we’ve made a few changes to take on board comments from volunteers. We’ll be asking for feedback on this.
Volunteer features, and volunteer vacancies
I wanted to draw your attention to two parts of the website you may not have seen: one is called volunteer features. This is where good ideas and initiatives from Areas and Groups are reported. Examples in the last month include: Ramblers member and volunteer, Stewart Ramsden, talking about what he gets from volunteering for Get Walking, Keep Walking in Manchester; Andover Ramblers Chair, John Frankham, on how to increase membership; Black Country Walkers’ Paul Davies on ideas for membership recruitment, and the success in East Sussex thanks to the work of Area Footpath Secretary, Malcolm McDonnell.
The other is called volunteer vacancies. This is where vacant volunteer posts can be advertised. We’ve just set it up, and it is aimed at helping Areas and Groups to fill posts which are sitting empty. When talking with volunteers, I know this can be a particular problem – so I hope this helps.
Ramblers on BBC One Show
Finally, if you didn't see the Ramblers 75th anniversary featuredon the BBC's One Show last Monday, click here for your last chance to see it on iPlayer (it is available up for a few more days - the feature starts about 2 minutes into the programme). Thanks to the Chelmer and Blackwater Ramblers for taking Giles Brandreth on their walk.
Anyway, that is enough from me for March. Have a good month, and thanks for giving the Ramblers so much.
P. S. If you'd like to follow my twitter log (which I update most days), you can do so with this link: http://twitter.com/RamblersTom
Previous blog entries: February 2010, January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 August 2009
