The Ramblers Storm Continues To Batter

Posted on | June 16, 2009 | 11 Comments

Here are some more thoughts from Cameron on events in his new post “Can you help Ramblers Scotland survive?”

Over at Grough they also are now covering the “Ramblers staff face the boot as cash crisis hits charity”.

What strikes me is that the recession seems a handy excuse for companies to use to make cut backs that they were scared to make before. It is often used as a time to settle scores as well in the great game of office politics. I’m not saying this is the case here, but some things aren’t adding up.

Did the Ramblers need rebranding? Did they need a change in emphasis from protecting rights to promoting walking in towns? I bet that lot cost the Ramblers a lot of expensive consultants to come up with these suggestions that they acted upon. Money that could of been used to keep these offices and jobs going. Plus the change of emphasis will I’m sure alienate a lot of the existing membership.

We will see how effective the call to arms is on the donations front, as there is a deadline of the end of July if any job losses are to be avoided. But if this call can be made now to try and save jobs by the Scottish Office, WHY COULDN’T the Ramblers have done something similar to plug this short fall with their membership?

It’s been a massive PR disaster so far for the Ramblers. Lots of people will be watching, and I hope that a grass roots and public backlash will not only tell the board of the Ramblers that they have made the wrong decision, but I also hope that they will tell them that the change in emphasis is also completely wrong.

Category: Outdoors News

Comments

11 Responses to “The Ramblers Storm Continues To Batter”

Trevor D Gamble
June 16th, 2009 @ 11:03 am

Ahh, I kinda imagined that whole rebranding thing with greater empasis on walking for health and wellness as well as enjoyment was aimed at them then being able to seek lottery grants money, on the grounds they were helping improve the state of the nation’s health! Was that not the case then?
Darren
June 16th, 2009 @ 3:30 pm

I wouldn’t possibly know if that was the real reason why. It seems to me an expensive exercise to get some grant money from the lottery. And also risky, especially if the lottery money was not as much as the money spent on rebranding.
But an interesting point.
John Manning
June 16th, 2009 @ 3:34 pm

A lot more of that “walking for health” thing will no doubt come in the run-up to the Olympics. Or at least it would have done if the Olympics hadn’t already bankrupted the nation!
TTG
June 16th, 2009 @ 4:31 pm

“The Ramblers” has been in a mess for some time now. I am a member (or have been trying for many months to renew). I finally got a renewal in late last month (reminds me must send it off) as a walk leader I need it for liability. So all this emphasis on walking and the group walk programme has been jeopardised by the complete farce that is their head office. At the Outdoor Show I collared one of their people and got a load of BS about it. Also they have heavy handed regional groups that move people around among groups in their areas. Not so long ago the group I have been fighting to stay in nearly left en masse to join BMC because of the area’s actions. All in all The Ramblers are in a real mess so much so that I seriously think those at the top are close to wrecking it and those lower down are helping.
TTG
June 16th, 2009 @ 4:48 pm

The more I hear about the Ramblers the more angry it makes me. I can tell you some stories about how they treat members in my group. It was a real disgrace. As far as I am concerned our group is as good as independant now. In fact I could easily get away with never joining again. I think some have already dropped off the membership list.
Darren
June 16th, 2009 @ 5:03 pm

TTG thank you for those comments. It’s interesting to see feedback like this. It can help explain how an organization has ended up in the situation it has.
TTG
June 16th, 2009 @ 5:31 pm

Darren – Thought my comments might not have gone down well since people are trying to raise money to save the branches. It important to contrast the positive aspects in Scotland and Wales branches with those of head office and also some areas of the organisation. As an organisation The Ramblers needed consultants to improve the processes and the systems not the image. They could become more than a part of the health message of the government. That is not what they are about, it is about opening access for people. It is for us. It was always a ground up organisation. that was how it originated. It is a shame. Still it is very easy to become a trustee and change things. They are very keen on getting younger people to become trustees. So anyone in one of the 20s and 30s groups propose one of your group to become a trustee. They will snap your hand off seriously, my friend was on course but things changed so had to pull out. Change things from within.
Darren
June 16th, 2009 @ 6:07 pm

thanks for the follow up comment, and clearing things up for some of the folks out there.
Trevor D Gamble
June 16th, 2009 @ 8:05 pm

Seems to a fair few of us here that the poor old Ramblers have forgotten who they are as an organisation at centre then, and just what it is they are there to do, as well somewhat! Very very sad news indeed!
Darren
June 16th, 2009 @ 8:22 pm

Trevor a fair summary there from the outsiders point of view. Thanks for making that so well.

For those interested if they pop on over to Cameron’s blog he has posted an update with a response from the Ramblers Welsh outpost.
Darren
June 16th, 2009 @ 8:25 pm

Forgot to say there is also a great blog posting on the subject at eBothy http://www.stravaiger.com/blog/?p=408