Officers and councillors at LCN member councils are being urged to don their walking boots to raise money for charity.
The Public Sector Challenge, which is the brainchild of LCN’s lead chief executive Jonathan Stephenson, has raised tens of thousands of pounds from teams participating in walking adventures through some of the UK’s most dramatic landscapes.
This weekend sees its toughest challenge yet. Teams will seek to conquer the highest peaks of Scotland, England, Wales, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland over a 48-hour period.
You can make a charitable donation in support of one of the Ultra challenge teams – some of them from LCN councils – who will be conquering Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, Snowdon, Carrauntoohil and Slieve Donard – by clicking here.
Jonathan says: “While we’re all challenged on a daily basis in local government, it’s incredibly uplifting to face an entirely separate sort of challenge with a different type of goal.
“Camaraderie and passion drive us on as we climb mountains or cover significant distances on the map in support of our chosen charities.
“Over the course of the year, we have different challenges of varying difficulty to allow a wider range of people to take part.
“While our Ultra challenge, taking us to the summits of the highest peaks in all five nations of the British Isles, may be too extreme for many, we do have challenges appropriate for most ability levels.
“If you can take part or feel able to generously sponsor our participants, or even organise your own event in your own area, it makes a huge difference both to our chosen good causes and to your local workforce who are brought closer together than before.”
Participants are being sought for the following forthcoming challenges:
Shropshire on Friday, 11 September. The Earth, Mynd and Shire walk involves scaling the county’s highest peak, Long Mynd, whose highest point Pole Bank is 516 metres high. Several separate challenges are available: 8.5, 16, 21.5 and 26 miles.
London Bridges Walk on Saturday, 16 January 2027.
Members have also previously set up more local Public Sector Challenge events in Surrey, Norfolk and Lincolnshire. The Public Sector Challenge team is seeking local leaders to suggest new challenges in their area.
Videos offer more information about the group’s past challenges, including last year’s Peak Pursuit and London Bridges events.
Further information is available on taking part in a forthcoming challenge or organising your own event on the Public Sector Challenge website.
