Environment

At CARE we take the issue of environmental impact very seriously. In 2004 we worked with the Institute of Fundraising to produce an updated information brochure on the code of conduct with reference to UK outdoor challenge events.

When planning our fundraising events we liaise with appropriate landowners and conservation bodies in order to establish the possible effects this may have on residents and local businesses. If these effects are likely to be negative, we make a conscious effort to adjust to the circumstances and plan the event at another location, if necessary.

Unlike many other charity challenges, CARE's Challenge Events are run with the full co-operation of everyone likely to be affected. For instance, on our classic Three Peaks Challenges, we do not use the Wasdale path route when ascending Scafell Pike, but instead begin our event at Seathwaite Farm and enforce time regulations, in order to avoid disturbing residents in the area.

We also aim to leave the mountain locations that we use cleaner than before the event. We do this in two ways:

• 

  We protect the environment
  By issuing all teams with bin liners on arrival and ensuring that all litter is taken away.
• By running a litter collecting competition for the teams at every mountain location. Teams are issued with a bin liner at the start and are encouraged to pick any litter up off the mountain paths during the Challenge. The team that collects the most litter is presented with a prize at the end of the Challenge.

We also aim to look after and protect the areas that the events take part in after the event has finished. We donate 2% of income raised from the CARE Challenge Series back into footpath restoration, and other associated environmental projects. In addition, we have a relationship with Climate Care, an organisation that helps individuals and companies reduce their own impact on global warming. This means that a proportion of income raised will be converted into planting trees to offset fuel emissions from the CARE Challenge Series.

To see how many tonnes of carbon emissions CARE Challenge has offset this year, download our Climate Care certificate.

In short, CARE International, as the market leader for outdoor Challenge Events in the UK upholds:

• The Institue of Fundraising code of conduct
• The British Mountaineering Mountain Code
• Countryside Code

CARE International also ensures that its Challenge participants are aware of all these codes before and during each Challenge event.