outdoors-participation-report-v2

Provider Family:
Social Connection
• Adventure travel companies
Adventure travel holiday companies will tend to have an office (rather than
a centre) and activity is booked through a combination of brochure and web
based inspiration.
• Adventure Clubs
Includes all independent outdoor clubs on any scale, capacity or discipline.
Also includes university clubs as key gateways to outdoor sport. Includes clubs
as a physical or web location to find fellow participants.
• Event Management
1.9%
7.2%
A growing number of providers (both social enterprise and private sector)
organising specific events, races, competitions and charity fund raising trips in
the outdoors. Often large scale events, hence relatively few providers can serve
a large number of participants.
90.9%
Adventure travel companies
Adventure Clubs
Event Management
Provider Workforce
Most of the leaders in this segment are driven by their own particular passion
for sport. This is often not really a workforce at all, with such a heavy reliance
on the voluntary sector.
The primary reason for the provision is to help participants find other people
to participate with. This is a big barrier to many people, especially those with
busy lives in urban areas.
For some, the specific sport or activity is important, for others the shared
enjoyment of the Outdoors is the focus.
Many of these providers are driven to defend the informal nature of
participation, and are resistant to seeing their activity as sport. These providers
are built on a recreational model or doctrine, with leadership at their core.
The responsibility for the management of risk is often ambiguous, and is a real
issue for many volunteers and club based activities, especially when looking
after minors.
Issues and Challenges
Modern adventure clubs are a success where traditional sport specific clubs
are often struggling with an ageing membership.
Taking responsibility for minors is an increasing concern for volunteer
club leaders.
There is an increasing expectation and pressure for qualified leaders. This is
threatening the volunteer workforce.
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