New Code For Three Peaks Events
A new code aimed at charities organising outdoors fundraising events like the Three Peaks challenge has been drawn up, but will it really make any difference?
Posted: 19 February 2004
by Jon
A new code of practice for outdoors charity events has been
produced with the aim of addressing concerns over the impact of
challenges like the Three Peaks.
The new code has been issued by the Institute
of Fundraising after discussions with National Park Authorities
and published as a leaflet 'UK Charity Challenge Events'. The code
aims to reduce the impact of events like the Three Peaks on local
people and looks at congestion, pollution and personal safety
issues.
Talking to specialist charity magazine Third Sector, Lindsay
Boswell, chief executive of the institute said: "By linking up with
the National Park Authorities we have been able to set standards that
maintain the good name of charities and urge all future events to
comply with these common sense steps."
The Three Peaks events - climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and
Snowdon in 24 hours - have become something of an outdoors cause
celebre with locals complaining of being woken in the early hours of
the morning by minibus engines and other noise and allegations of
unnecessary littering and erosion being caused by the large groups
involved.
Old hat?
The new code though, isn't the first of its kind. The Institute of
Charity Fund Managers produced a set of guidelines in 1998 for the
Three Peaks including a maximum number of 200 for single events and a
stipulation that starts on mountain ascents be made after 5 a.m.
Unfortunately that code made little obvious difference and OM
member Guy Newbold's 'Three
Peaks Challenge Impact Diary' for last year catalogues the impact
of the events on Wasdale. He counted just over 1,000 three peaks
event vehicles in the valley between May and September, removed 76
bags of litter and 14 bags of human waste left by eventers and
estimates some 55% of the 3 peak competitors were in Wasdale on the
fell between 9pm and 7am in contravention of the existing
guidelines.
Guy isn't anti-Three Peak events per se, but as someone who works
in Wasdale, he's concerned over the impact of the events on a
beautiful and delicate area. His diary makes sobering reading.
Discuss this story
So there's a new code aimed at organisers of events like the Three Peaks, but will it have any more impact than the one that was drawn up in 1998? Do you think that mass-participation charity events of this kind and national parks with their relatively fragile environment are simply incompatible?
Posted: 19/02/2004 at 08:27
I can't see it making any difference until there are penalties imposed on the organisers/charities who flout the code. IMHO charaties are more interested in how much money they get from the event rather than the impact they have.
Posted: 19/02/2004 at 08:49
I'd like to say a big thank you to Guy for his excellent work on this, and for going above the call of duty (14 bags of human waste! I gag picking up after my dogs). Naming and shaming would deter a little especially if he can get the names in the press as well. Once again well done Guy.
Posted: 19/02/2004 at 09:07
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