Volunteers Training Day, 17th November 2012
Workshop 2 – Attracting new members
Groups need to keep the flow of new members coming along, in order to make sure they
continue to flourish. A group can easily stagnate and then start to diminish in size if it is
not attracting new people and new ideas. It can then be a vicious cycle as people are not
keen to join groups which can be seen as cliques to outsiders. Word of mouth is the best
way to gain new members and publicise the group, but it can mean that this doesn’t bring
in a diverse range of new members of different ages and interests, so other methods are
needed too.
Here are a few ways to ensure you are reaching out to new members:
1. Diverse walk programmes
Ideally every group should offer a wide range of walks. However, a number of our groups
now only offer B and C walks. This may be because their members are ageing and they
can no longer offer A walks, but it does mean that younger, fitter people will not be
attracted to join the group. In this case, there may be ways of joining up with other nearby
Ramblers groups from time-to-time to share leaders, or inviting people from the broader
community to lead walks for them. Developing walks using public transport has the added
benefit of saving on petrol/diesel costs. Hopping on a bus can also add to your enjoyment
and make linear walks much easier.
However, most groups can establish shorter walk programmes (3-5 miles). We know from
talking to non-members that they are worried about not being fit enough to join a Ramblers
group, so make sure you are not putting off potential new members because you are not
offering suitable walks for them. Think also about whether you are able to offer walks both
at weekends and on weekdays.
2. Special interest walks
Why not diversify your programme further with some special interest walks? You can draw
on the experience and knowledge of your members or else invite an external expert to
walk with you. Special interest walks could cover bird-watching, archaeology, local history,
etc, or could be themed walks – a walk that ends in a cafe, an autumn colours walk,
bluebell walk, summer evening walks, wheelchair/buggy-friendly walks, etc.
Be aware also that thousands of Scottish people walk regularly with their dogs, but they
feel alienated from Ramblers groups because many of them ban dogs on walks. This is
not a general Ramblers policy, and while groups have the right to decide on how they run
their own groups, there may be members who would be happy to take on special dogwalkers walks, etc. It would be worth thinking about.
3. Building bridges with health walks
Try to build links with local health walk coordinators so that fitter walkers on the health
schemes can be signposted to the group. Jeannie Cranfield can help you find their
contact details (Jeannie.cranfield@ramblers.org.uk). These shorter walks need to be
regular (once a week, once a month) and well-publicised. Find out where your local
Community Sports Hub is, and make sure your group has a poster there.
4. Communication tools
 Website – if your group doesn’t yet have a website, please think about setting one
up. You may have a member who could help, or you could apply to Ramblers for
some funding to do this. Groups which do have websites now find that the majority
of their new members find out about them through the internet. It’s also great for
communicating news, walks etc to your own members. Your website doesn’t need
to be fancy! However, it should have the Ramblers Scotland logo on it, contact
details, a copy of your latest walk programme and also photos of walks or social
events to show what a great time you are all having! Make sure it is easy for new
people to find out how to go out on a walk with you. Have a look at some of the
existing websites and learn from them!
 Facebook and social media sites - If you have someone who is interested in
Facebook and other social media, why not try setting up a group Facebook page or
create your own blog? Or use www.meetup.com to set up meet up walks.
 Create e-mail triggers for organised walks.
 Advertise your programme on the Walks Finder pages on the Ramblers website.
http://www.ramblers.org.uk/areas_groups/groupswalksfinder
 Walk programmes
o Walk programmes are a great way to promote your group so make sure you
send a copy to the Ramblers Scotland office in case we get inquiries. Have
shorter versions to add to posters in your local library or Community Sports
Hubs.
o Make sure you include a clear concise walk description. Include length,
height, location type of terrain so people have a good idea of the type of
walk.
o Always make sure you have extra copies of your walk programmes to hand
out on walks. This would also cater for people who do not have access to
the internet.
 Posters – the Scotland office can send you posters to put up in libraries, etc, or you
can design your own.
 Recruitment leaflets – Ramblers Scotland office can send you out leaflets and
dispensers if you have places you can leave them.
 Events – why not have a stand at local outdoors events? Publicity material is
available from the Ramblers Central Office or Ramblers Scotland office.
 Article in newspapers – many groups have short articles in the local press about the
walks they are planning to do, or a report of their last walk. Contact your local
paper about doing the same, they are usually keen to have local news especially if
photographs are included!
 walk magazine – pass on any past copies of walk magazine and put them in GPs’
surgeries, etc.
 Face to face communication. Create open friendly social groups – talk to people
make them feel welcome and create a good ‘walking’ experience.
Kareen Robertson & Jim Lawson