SOA Development Fund 2025 – Applications are now open!

2024 saw Edinburgh hosting elite athletes from across the globe for the Sprint World Championships in an event that has been described by some as potentially being the best ever.  

We are looking to ensure that the success of the World Championships is built upon through the new  Scottish Orienteering 4 year strategy.  This strategy represents a collective vision for the future of orienteering in Scotland which aims to support the vision of orienteering as a thriving sport for all generations through the key themes: changing perceptions, engaging experiences, lifelong pathways and foundations for success. An outline of the Scottish Orienteering Strategy can be found here.

The evolution of the Scottish Orienteering Strategy confirmed that clubs are the essential backbone of our sport.  The implementation of this strategy will be a team effort across the Scottish orienteering community with everyone contributing and the SOA development focus being on connecting and supporting clubs.  Over the years the SOA Development Fund has supported Scottish clubs wishing to undertake projects with the aim of developing the sport. As we look to continue to build on the new Scottish Orienteering Strategy we are therefore focusing the current SOA Development funding on projects which a) support the expansion of the sport within the 20 to 40 age group b) continued development of orienteering participation following WOC 2024, and c) within clubs who saw a dramatic decline in membership as a result of Covid. We are asking clubs to come forward with any proposals which build on these themes.

To find out more about this year’s fund, head to the SOA Development Fund page where you will also find the link to the application form.

The deadline for applications is 21st March 2025.

Photos from FVO’s work with the Donaldson’s Trust that was funded by the 2024 SOA Development Fund.

ESOC’s ‘Events in a Box’ facilitated easy access into orienteering for newcomers near to where they live and was funded by the 2024 SOA Development Fund.