Young South Lakes orienteers train with world champions thanks to forum grant

Promising young orienteers have spent ten days in Norway training with experts thanks to help from a Cumbria County Council Neighbourhood Forum Grant.

Young people on the North West Junior Orienteering Squad applied to High Furness Neighbourhood Forum for £360 toward the trip, which saw them train with some of the world’s best orienteers. 

The 30 young people from around the North West, including four from the High Furness area, travelled to Fredrikstad in the south of the country, home of one of the world’s best clubs.  

The British youngsters, aged 13 to 18, are all gold standard orienteers and many have had major successes in representing both their club and England at competitions around the world.

They have worked hard to raise the rest of the money they needed for the trip: baking cakes, holding a raffle, manning a stall at Ulverston Dickensian weekend and packing bags at Booths.

Squad member Charlotte McKenny, 16 from Ulverston, says “The trip was amazing, with us being able to boast not only competing against some of the most prestigious clubs in Scandinavia, but training with Halden, the best orienteering club in the world.  

“I’d just like to say thank you for the grant which has helped towards my trip to Norway.   It was an unforgettable experience and helped towards improving my orienteering skills greatly.”

Sue Butterfield, the squad’s funding co-ordinator says “The trip has made the juniors plan and work together.   When we returned home, the juniors who had been on the trip helped at their local schools and clubs to train others.

“They have come back with a lot of confidence and have learned to work with others to do everything from running to cooking.”

Neighbourhood Forum Grants are provided by Cumbria County Council for voluntary and community projects. Each of the county’s 60 Neighbourhood Forums has a pot of money for grants and residents and councillors are able to give their views on the most deserving causes to receive funds.

For more information contact the South Lakeland Community Unit.