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Results of the 2022 Member Survey: What we found and who won!
Neil Kinnerly • 8 February 2022
Thank you to all members who responded to the 2022 Canoe Wales Membership Survey
The member survey was open from 18–31 January 2022 and was sent to all Canoe Wales members with an email address on our database. It was fantastic to see a total of 258 responses, or about 6% of members.
179 respondents entered the prize draw to win a year’s free membership, and we are pleased to announce that the winner is Iain Jardine from Dragon Paddlers.
Overall findings suggest our members are still generally satisfied with Canoe Wales membership. In fact, membership satisfaction has increased again up to 74% (from 69% last year), which appears to be down to a good "onboarding" process for new members, good communication (including through COVID-19), increasing member engagement through events like the Roadshows, and the success of inclusive programmes like #ShePaddles Cymru.
Here are some other key findings from the survey:
- You told us you like the magazine and the engaging content it presents, along with the increasing news items on our website and social media engagement.
- Access is a continual concern for you, and we know that many of you think we should be doing more in this area. Likewise, quite a few members suggested we do more of a focus on the environment and engage with more environment-based groups going forward.
- Many of you have reminded us that you find the coaching scheme confusing, and we will ensure your feedback is passed onto British Canoeing Awarding Body who control the scheme. We will also do what we can over the next 12 months to provide guidance and updates to help people understand some of the recent changes and developments. Some of you have also told us you find the scheme financially or time onerous.
- 74% of you have been satisfied with our response to COVID-19 and appreciated our regular communications about the guidance and accessibility of staff for questions or support. Some of you reminded us how significant the impact of the early 2021 lockdown was to you as paddlers, and that you felt we should have done more to influence Welsh Government.
- We know that clubs are struggling to find enough volunteers and train up enough coaches and leaders. Some of you would like to see programmes like #ShePaddles Cymru rolled out to other underrepresented groups.
So we’ve some interesting and useful insights which will help inform what we do and how we do it going forwards into 2022. For the first time, we gave an option to leave us your contact details for a follow up about any concern you have raised and (if you left your contact details) we will be following up with you over the next few weeks.
The results of the survey will also help to shape the new 2024-28 Strategy, and we will be providing you more opportunity to engage in the development of the strategy over the next 12 months.
Finally, the Canoe Wales Board has already reviewed the findings and would like to pass their appreciation to all members who engaged in the process. The next opportunity to tell us what you think will be at the Canoe Wales 2022 Roadshows. We’re finalising plans for the events which we shall be launching very shortly. We hope to see some of you there!
Recent Posts
A huge congratulations to the following paddlers for making it onto the Canoe Wales Slalom Programme. Your dedication and commitment over the past twelve months have truly paid off, and the progress you have all made is commendable. Such good work everyone!
On Tuesday evening, Canoe Wales welcomed over 80 people to it’s online AGM and Annual Meeting. The evening started with an introduction from the Canoe Wales Chair, Kerry Chown who then introduced Tavi Murray and Russell Scaplehorn who began the evening with a talk on their incredible sea kayaking trip around Wales. Tavi and Russell took us on a journey around the coastline, into the canals and estuaries, and through storms and other challenges. They inspired us all to do something similar with tales of connection and achievement and it was a great start to the evening. The normal business of the AGM came next, and viewers received an update on the Canoe Wales Board. They also received an overview of the five nominees for the two vacant elected positions and we moved into the voting. It was clear the voting was a key focus of the evening and significantly contributed to the bumper turnout. Many proxy votes had been received demonstrating the interest and engagement and also the high calibre of the five candidates. As a consequence of the voting, Megan Hamer-Evans and Jim Potter were selected as the two candidates and will be inducted on to the Canoe Wales Board of Directors in the coming weeks. Kerry Chown then gave her Chair’s report where she announced she would be standing down as Chair next June. Alistair Dickson, CEO, followed with an update of the activities of the association across the various functional areas. Andy Booth, Canoe Wales Finance Director, then followed and gave a detailed picture of the financial situation of both Canoe Wales and Canoe Wales Sales and Services. Votes were taken where the accounts were approved as presented and Bevan Buckland LLC were reappointed for 2024-25. Kerry then introduced the Board’s proposal to change the trading name of Canoe Wales to Paddle Cymru. This was approved with 80% of voters in approval of the change. Canoe Wales will be changing its trading name to Paddle Cymru, heralding a new era for us as the national governing body for paddlesport in Wales. The new name and brand identity were approved by the Canoe Wales membership following it’s AGM on Tuesday evening. This is following an extensive process of consultation with its paddling community, partners and stakeholders over the past two years. It’s also following the proposal of the International Canoe Federation to become Paddle Worldwide which was agreed at the annual congress last week. Following the vote, Canoe Wales will be updating the branding and launching a new website in weeks to come. Please watch this space!
Welsh Sailing, Canoe Wales and Welsh Triathlon sign up to Clean Water Sports Alliance Three national governing bodies for sports in Wales have joined the Clean Water Sports Alliance to call for the protection of blue spaces for people and wildlife. RYA Cymru Wales, Canoe Wales and Welsh Triathlon announced their backing for the campaign at a Sustainability in Sport conference hosted by the Welsh Sports Association (WSA) at The Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre, Newport (12 November 2024).
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