Are you a champion of the outdoors?
Ordnance Survey is looking for inspirational adventurers that are passionate and enthusiastic about Britain, and who are great at motivating others to get out there and enjoy it, to become champions for its #GetOutside campaign.
The chosen champions will have the opportunity to take part in photoshoots and a year-long series of events with OS’s ambassadors, the wildlife presenter and naturalist Steve Backshall, endurance adventurer Sean Conway and mountaineer and Everest climber Bonita Norris. Each champion will also be able to share their insights, thoughts and outdoor stories through the #GetOutside website and social media.
OS ambassador and TV presenter, Steve Backshall, who recently kayaked the 125 miles from Devizes to Westminster for the World Land Trust charity and climbed Mount Asgard, Baffin Island, says: “I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world with my job, and Britain is up there as one of the most beautiful and interesting countries to discover and explore. Britain is amazing, and OS is giving people who have a passion for being outside a fantastic chance to share that enthusiasm with others and to get them loving and caring for it, too. There’s no excuse. If you love being outside and wonder why others are not getting outside more too, then as an OS champion you’ll have the opportunity to do something about it.”
The champions will also be given exclusive access to OS products before anyone else and will be able to take part in product trials. Also included will be full access to OS’s latest digital mapping product OS Maps, which includes all OS Landranger and OS Explorer maps, and an exclusive #GetOutside champions clothing bundle, £200 cash sponsorship and a special discount on all goods sold in OS’s online shop.
Ordnance Survey launched the #GetOutside campaign to urge people off the sofa, to ditch the car and to enjoy the outdoors, after worrying research showed walking to be on the decline in Great Britain. The results suggested a quarter of the British public won’t walk anywhere that takes over 15 minutes. Three quarters won’t walk to work. Almost 70% never walk to the shops, while only a third would ever do the school run on foot, with only around a third of us admitting to enjoying a weekend walk for pleasure.
Nick Giles, Managing Director for Ordnance Survey Leisure, says: “These results are shocking and very disappointing. We are in danger of becoming disconnected from our own landscape. The benefits of exercising and getting regular fresh air in your lungs are already well documented, but more needs to be done to get that message across, which is where our #GetOutside champions come in.
Nick continues: “We are interested in hearing from people of all ages and abilities that love the outdoors and believe they can get others to love it, too. Or we would like to hear from you if you know someone who would make an inspirational champion. It is our hope that the champions will make a difference to their communities and beyond by helping people reconnect with spending quality time outdoors.”
People can nominate themselves to be a #GetOutside champion or someone they know at os.uk/championgetoutside.
Head of Media
Email: Robert.andrews@os.uk
