Category: News

We welcome yesterday’s update from Scottish Government with some optimism on the resumption of Orienteering. We await further clarification on guidance from our partners, sportscotland on permitted activities & travel restrictions which are vital to us publishing meaningful guidance to clubs and members. We promise to communicate SOA guidelines as soon as these become available.

The SOA would like to extend it’s congratulations to FVO & Masterplan Adventure’s Graham Gristwood on his appointment to the IOF Foot Orienteering Commission recently. It has fantastic to see representation on an International body from a Scottish athlete.

With International Women’s Day on the 8th March embracing the theme of challenging gender equality and highlighting bias, we have chosen to kick off our new monthly series of ‘Community Conversations’ with the first topic of Gender Equality in orienteering.

Yesterday our Chief Operating Officer, Fiona Keir, joined 34 other CEOs of Scottish Sports Governing Bodies to connect with the Minister for Public Health and Sport, Mairi Gougeon, and Chief Executive of sportscotland, Stewart Harris, at the virtual meeting.

Whilst we would love to be in a position to have our 2021 AGM in person and allow for face to face discussions, the Board have taken the decision that it is necessary to host the 2021 AGM online to allow for planning to take place. We look forward to publishing the AGM booklet, however we ask you for now to **SAVE THE DATE SOA AGM 25th June 2021**.

As always we welcome your input! Should any member or club wish to put forward a proposal or a nomination for any of our vacant director positions please contact Fiona@Scottish-orienteering.org

Following the First Minister’s statements this week we want to provide something to look forward to during these days in lockdown and to reassure our members that we are committed to hosting events in 2021, when restrictions allow. Our primary focus as the first step will be supporting and encouraging clubs to restart with local events and re-engage their members. We will provide advice and support to clubs  to ensure everyone has confidence that all measures have been taken to allow for the safe return of our sport.

And looking beyond local events, we want to give our commitment to supporting the return of regional and national events when we are permitted to do so.

We are truly delighted to welcome Neil Rankin to the SOA Board of Directors. As an Independent Director, Neil was approved by the Board following an application and interview process. Neil brings to the role significant experience in the Scottish sporting system and professional insight into the areas of welfare, equity and inclusion.

While some progress is being made to suppress the virus and incredible efforts towards vaccinating adults is taking place, from the First Minister’s statement today it looks as though our events and activities remain suspended for now. We must all follow the guidance to stay at home with the hope of more positive news to come.

We will work with sportscotland on the guidance for 12-17year olds and also work to prepare our clubs with any additional information we obtain about what Level 3 may look like come April.

Today, Jan Kersel joined our SOA Team Meeting and provided a valuable update on all the developments taking place across Argyll & Bute. It was uplifting to hear the impact of the appointment of Jan on EckO and we felt compelled to share her story. Enjoy!

We are looking forward to hosting the second of the Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport courses on 22nd February and were delighted to get good feedback following the first course earlier this month. There are some spaces left on the courses on the 9th and 18th March, so if you are interested please do sign up here

One question which we were asked to clarify following the course was who needed a PVG within orienteering in Scotland?