Volunteering
NGOC is entirely run by volunteers. We have no paid staff, and we rely on volunteers for everything, from managing the equipment, running the website, and getting permission to stage events, right through to setting up the entries process, and then planning and organising our events. If you enjoy orienteering and decide to join the club, we are always looking for people to help out at events, and eventually to plan them, or join the committee, and help to ensure the future of the club. Helping out at events is a great way to start; it’s easy to do, there are plenty of people around to give you a hand, and it’s the best way to get to know lots of people in the club. There is no probationary period…..you can start helping the moment you join the club, and will be welcomed with open arms. We have a volunteer coordinator, who is always on the lookout for event helpers, and you get a discount on your entry fee if you help at an event. Of course helping doesn’t preclude you also running in the same event; we operate a shift system so that everyone gets a chance to run, either before or after a volunteer shift. Below we list the main jobs that need doing when we stage an event, be it an informal local event or a National event, but remember that like any organisation, we also need people behind the scenes to oil the wheels of the club. The committee list gives a good idea of the roles we need to fill to run the club, so if you have any interest in getting directly involved in running NGOC, do talk to anyone on the committee and we’ll be happy to get you involved.
Parking
Parking is often one of the biggest challenges at larger events, and can also be problematic at smaller ones, so we rely on a small team of parking marshals to squeeze as many cars as we can into often limited spaces. We’ll provide you with a hi-vis jacket – a warm and waterproof one if necessary – and the organiser or parking leader will show you what’s needed, where we can safely park, where we need to avoid, and so on. It means you need to arrive fairly early, either to park people first then run, or for larger events get an early start and be available to take over parking duties after running.
Event Set-up
Another job for early risers…..setting up the tents, maybe marking the route to the start, setting up the Finish, doing whatever the organiser needs doing to ensure the event is ready to receive runners in good time. Typically this job is done by people who have to arrive early anyway – equipment provider, registration and cafe tent people and so on, but for larger events we sometimes need a larger infrastructure team, and for the largest events there is often work to be done in the days before the actual event to prepare the ground and assembly area.
Registration and Enquiries
For a long time now we have had a regular registration and enquiry person in Carol Stewart, but at some point she will decide to retire, so anyone interested in helping with this job would be most welcome. It mainly involves handing out hired dibbers, taking entries-on-the-day and passing them to the computing team, and handling enquiries, as well as holding and issuing String course maps.
The Start
Running the start is perhaps the most important job on event day. For smaller events we normally manage with 2-3 start officials but this can escalate to maybe a dozen people on each of 3 shifts for a very large event. The start boxes have to be laid out, control descriptions and maps sorted into the correct lanes and map boxes, and all the infrastructure controls – Clear, Check, SIAC test, Start etc set out and checked that they are all working. Then the start team have to make sure everyone punches the Clear, Check and Start controls, that any late information is relayed to the runners, and that the queues are managed to ensure no two runners start at the same time on the same course. Working on the Start is a very sociable job, as you meet everyone coming though.
Technology
The download role is about the only one that requires a measure of technical know-how, and confidence in using a laptop. There are three separate roles for any event – pre-event setup of the technology, on the day download management and problem resolution, and then post event processing of results etc. We have a small number of people who can do the pre- and post-event setup stuff, but are always keen to hear from those who might like to get involved in this side of event organisation and support. The same people typically run the download station on event day, but this job is somewhat more straightforward, and often very largely runs itself, so a good way to get involved in this area is to sit in on event day and see how it all works, then deciding if you fancy giving it a go. We can train you up to whatever level you feel happy to do.
Control Collecting
When it’s all over the organiser/planner has to get all the controls back in, and helping with this is a crucial element in wrapping up the day in good time. It also gives you a chance to get back out into the forest and visit a few controls that weren’t on your course, as well as some that were. We normally need 4-6 control collectors to get everything in reasonably quickly, so there is always a place here for those who want to help out.
First Aid
Finally, First Aid, provision of which is a mandatory requirement at all events. You need to attend a one-day First Aid workshop, but otherwise do not need any formal qualifications – just an interest in helping people in need. We have a comprehensive first aid kit, and except for large events, you can normally go about your normal event activities, as long as you or another first aider is always around assembly in case of need.