Ramblers' Scottish and Welsh staff face the walk as the board looks at radical cost-cutting
A cash crisis could see the Ramblers reduced to a rump outside England.
Staff in Scotland and Wales face the sack or pay cuts with proposals to lose 14 jobs and close the Scottish and Welsh offices. Angry members north of the border say they may consider breaking away from the charity, which campaigns for walkers’ rights.
Proposals believed to have been agreed by the Ramblers’ board would see Scotland and Wales left with just two staff each, working from home and on reduced wages.
Ramblers Scotland president Dennis Canavan said every member would be approached to stump up cash to make up a £300,000 shortfall. The Scottish section of the charity faces having its budget cut to just £81,000. He said he would also be appealing to non-members to support the cash-call to try to save the Perth and Kinross-based organisation, which managed to secure one of the best right-to-roam laws in Europe with the passing of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act. England and Wales’s Countryside and Rights of Way Act is a far weaker piece of legislation.
Ramblers Scotland president, former MSP Dennis Canavan
Mr Canavan called the decision of the London board a ‘very hasty and ill-informed decision’.
The Ramblers blame the need to make cuts on the recession which, they said, has reduced their revenue. In March this year, the organisation went through a major ‘rebranding’ exercise, dropping the ‘Association’ from its title and putting more emphasis on urban walking – a move away from its traditional role supporting walkers’ access battles and supporting rural walking routes. The Ramblers’ Association grew out of the many local clubs formed in the first half of the 20th century which saw as their central role the right of workers from northern cities to escape the horrors of industrial cities for the hills and countryside.
There has been a further change in emphasis to encouraging more take-up of walking, including the Ramblers Scotland campaign in the run-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, which may be put at risk by the proposed cuts.
Pledges of cash from the Ramblers’ 7,500 Scottish members will be needed before the end of next month if the job cuts are to be avoided.
Baz
16 June 2009Cash crisis?! I'd be strapped for cash if I continued to set up shop in the centre of London, one of the more expensive places in the UK!
"Ramblers main office: 2nd Floor Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment
London SE1 7TW, UK"
As a member for many years I suspect that the majority of membership, like me, have not had cause to visit this hallowed office as most of our communication comes in either virtual or postal means. In fact it could be argued that the real thrust of the Ramblers is via its local groups. Times of shortfall in cash are not the point at which to kick your local groups in the teeth.
I'll be getting in contact with head office about this, my membership is on the brink.
OMR
16 June 2009Saying Ramblers Scotland "managed to secure one of the best right-to-roam laws in Europe" is like me saying I did it all myself. They were one of very many organisations and thousands of people who contributed to the campaign and consultation for the Act.
Having said that, if they feel they have something to contribute, and that their existence is important - and it may well be - then best course would be to just make a clean and quick split from the English The Ramblers, which has clearly lost its way with 'slick' name change and chasing after the chimera of 'urban walking'. As I understood it the Ramblers Association was set up to represent ramblers, not to go on an ill-judged quest for members whose interest in 'urban walking' will be as fleeting as the next micro-trend: to continue doing something useful rather than chasing cheap publicity at the expense of its original aims.
Jhimmy
16 June 2009Another overbloated organisation fascinated on increasing membership by re-branding and jumping through hoops.
I'm a member of the BMC and I'm not happy that their intoductory membership is 15 quid, I've been a member for a fair few years and pay 30 quid. I should be getting the discount by virtue of loyalty, not as reward for being new.
I'm also a cyclist, but a few of my mates have also quit CTC as a waste of money.
I'm also a life member of the SHYA, but I wish I hadn't. They've closed a few good hostels down (Killan was my favourite), so the question comes to my mind....Why buy membership of clubs that don't look after it's devoted and consistant members?
Grumble over.
gam
17 June 2009time for scotland and wales to split from the ramblers and scottish and welsh funds to be returned to their respective home clubs and i wonder how many gifts to the ramblers where made from scotland and wales to benefit walking
gam
John Newrick
31 August 2016A bunch of amateurs run by professional charity workers, they need to get out and about and speak to real people who will tell them to move out of London.
You do not have to have base in London anymore to lobby people. h
Have not they heard of the world wide web, not to mention Twitter etc.
Wake up Ramblers and join the world.
A reluctant member who has been pushing the move away from London for at least 10 years now.
JKN