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Tips for Organising a Sponsored Walk

Plan the route. Think about:

· how far should it be - are you aiming for fit types or a relatively short walk that anyone can do;

    · a good place to assemble at the start, maybe with nearby loos
    · safe route - eg pavements wide enough, cross the road at pedestrian crossings or other safe places
    · pleasant/interesting route
    · drinks/refreshment stops as appropriate
    · good place to end the walk - where people can gather for a drink and perhaps have some food.

    Consider assigning the following roles:

    • co-ordinator: in overall control of the event and its organisation.
    • base controller: someone to organise the base control team, to check the walkers in/out on the day.
    • catering officer: someone to organise refreshments.
    • publicity officer: someone capable of producing a considerable variety and quantity of posters and other publicity material, maps, sponsor forms, check cards, etc.
    • route controller: someone to organise way marking and co-ordinate the teams operating along the route. Team leaders/marshals should have – first aid kits, rubbish bags, spare suncream – particularly for kids and mobile phones so they can make contact with the base controller in event of an emergency.
    • route designers: several walkers with local knowledge and map-reading ability .
    • schools liaison officer: someone willing to visit the school and enthuse the pupils.

    Ensure you walk the route before the actual day in order to check walking time to various points and preparing/checking route maps and directions.

    Consider whether you wish to introduce some type of novelty to the walk, e.g. some people could go in fancy dress if they want, or you can get famous people involved.. You may want to give participants badges, T-shirts or something else to help identify them on the walk and give a sense of shared identity

    At an early stage, as soon as you have planned a route, get any permissions or give any notifications required – e.g from police or local authority

    You may want to take out public liability insurance cover or check whether existing school insurance will cover the event.

    Map and Directions

    Depending on the type of walk, people may well need a map and directions. This could tell people such things as the route, points of interest, toilets and refreshment facilities along the route, and what to do at the end, You can either give this to people on the day, or you can send it out in advance in which case of course you would also tell people such things as where the start is and when to arrive.

    Collecting the money

    This should be done primarily by the participants from their own sponsors. Support people in collecting the money from their sponsors. Stress how important collecting in the money is. Give a deadline by when they should have got the money in. Someone should keep a list of the participants and money collected from them. You might give a prize for the largest amount actually collected, to encourage participants to collect.

    A Friendly Disclaimer

    We hope you find these tips useful..They are however only tips and we don’t claim to be experts or cover all the angles. We don't accept responsibility for any loss where anyone acts or refrains from action as a result of material on this web page