The hills are alive - with the sound of charities…
Okay, the picture’s not Yorkshire…
We love the great outdoors and the majesty of the hills without wishing to sound too much Julie Andrews - even if the rather exaggerated example at the top of the post is the Matterhorn rather than the Yorkshire dales! - but really just there to make a point. The great wide open in the UK is, bar some mint cake and stout boots, practically free.
It has to be said that many people don’t even get to experience some beautiful parts of the country, when constrained between the workplace and urban/suburban living unwittingly for so much of their adult lives. There is a whole landscape of exquisite beauty a car or van ride away, without the need to Easyjet to sunnier climes. Martin is an avid hill walker and team leader with many years experience of hillwalking in the UK and even Alpine running!
So we figured why not put the two together?, and organise hill walks for our charity clients, even if the closest some entrants have come to a mountain is a Toblerone. We’ve organised a few of these now and the feedback has been ecstatic from the walkers. Conquering Snowdon with your colleagues means that the workplace will somehow never be the same with your fellow intrepid hikers - somehow even that previously insurmountable stack of paperwork on the desk now seems a relatively easy summit to conquer.
Snowdon
People learn new limits and certainly for those under the steer of a qualified guide, confidence to walk over rocks and uneven terrain. In work as in conquering a summit, its the fear of falling that’s often far worse than the fall. People take away the confidence to try new things and learn new skills long after the event.
There are some caveats, participants need to realise that these events can be cancelled at short notice, as at altitude weather can change very quickly, rocks can be slippery, and there is a comprehensive list of correct attire and a qualified first aider and experienced leader are essential - so walks are great, but you do need to take some sensible precautions.
Snowdon
Snowdon
In addition to some great chat around the water cooler back at the office, away from the work environment you learn a lot more about the people you work with, people open up and share an insight into their lives outside the office. It builds comradeship and the rare opportunity of the reward of team achievement in addition to raising funds for your chosen concern. This could be a tough mudder, go karting, or even a dragon boat, but the net gain - for any business, particularly the charity sector is far more than just monetary. Friendships are cemented, and the wheels of efficiency oiled.
Team T-Shirts, and a banner unfurled at end of your event provides a great opportunity for publicity, thinking beyond the event the pictures are great in newsletters, blogs or social media. Highlighting your cause and showing a unified and relatable face to your supporters. So sponsor forms at the ready and conquer more than just mountains… For ourselves as a specialist in marketing for charities, the reward is great, it gives us a better insight into an organisation and the people that work in this very worthwhile arena.