Why We Do What We Do
The Club has three aims:
- to provide opportunities for the Members to enjoy and gain experience in a variety of outdoor pursuits in reasonable safety
- to encourage Members to reach high standards of proficiency and leadership skills through experience and training
- to run the Club for the benefit of the Members on a non-profit basis
For this we have a wide variety of events in various outdoor activities across the country and abroad. We have leaders to help develop skills and consider the safety of members. We help members to become leaders through training and National Governing Body courses; and we subsidise training costs through the use of membership fees.
How The Club Works
First and foremost, this is a club run by its members, for its members. That’s one of the things that makes it special. Almost everything the club does — from organising trips and activities to running training sessions and events — is driven by members who want to share their interests and experiences with others.
Getting involved is easier than you might think. There’s plenty of support available from the club’s various officials and from other members, so you don’t have to be an expert organiser to get something started. You get the most out of the club when you play an active part in making it happen.
A Club with Many Activities
Structurally, the club takes a federated approach, bringing together four main Divisions:
Paddlesport
Climbing
Walking
Cycling
Within each Division are a range of Disciplines, reflecting the different ways members enjoy their activity. These include Sea Kayaking, White Water Kayaking, Scrambling, Mountain Biking and many more.
Each Division is run by its own sub-committee, led by an Activity Coordinator and supported by a number of deputies. These roles typically reflect the different Disciplines within the Division, as well as areas such as training and equipment maintenance. This gives each part of the club the freedom to develop its own programme while still benefiting from the support and resources of the wider organisation.
Running across all four Divisions is the Families Wing. It draws on the Divisions for things such as equipment and experienced leaders, but has the freedom to develop and organise its own programme of family-friendly activities.
And the structure isn’t fixed in stone — additional Divisions can be created where there is sufficient interest and the practical requirements can be met.
Keeping Everything on Track
At the heart of the club is the Committee, which acts as its executive and governance body. Its role is less about telling the Divisions what to do and more about making sure the club as a whole is well run, sustainable and able to support its members.
The Committee ensures that the club operates within the law and in accordance with relevant National Governing Body guidance, club rules, policies and agreed budgets. It also takes care of the things that cut across all Divisions, including equipment storage and auditing, safeguarding and welfare, finance, membership, communications and the website.
The result is a structure that combines member-led freedom with sensible governance: Divisions and Disciplines can get on with doing what they do best, while the Committee provides the framework, support and oversight that keeps the whole club moving in the right direction.