Guidance

Active roleplay

This guide is aimed at the challenge leader(s). As a leader guiding your group through the assault course, your role is crucial in maintaining the meaningful…

• About this section
• Active roleplay overview
• Uncomfortable sleep
• Embracing discomfort
• Balance beams
• Barbed wire crawl
• Cargo net climbing
• Crawling under cargo netting
• Crawling under logs
• Heavy carries
• Muddy ditches
• Platform jumps
• Rope swings
• Tackling the tyre wall
• Tunnel crawling
• Tyre obstacles
• Wall climbing
• Water wading

Problem solving

Every Trials & Tribulations challenge presents unexpected situations that require sensitive, practical solutions. This section prepares you for the human challenges that arise when people…

• About this section
• Problem solving overview
• Maintaining modesty during the challenge
• Managing moods and emotions
• Supporting participants who are menstruating
• Building confidence in hesitant participants
• Supporting participants going through menopause
• Boosting iman through the challenge
• Gentle persuasion techniques

Venues and routes

The physical spaces where your Trials & Tribulations challenge unfolds — from the intimate gathering venue to the muddy trails and challenging assault course —…

• About this section
• Venues and routes overview
• Gathering venue
• Trek route
• Assault course venue
• Potential assault courses
• Natural obstacles

Building your team

The heart of any Trials & Tribulations challenge lies not in the obstacles or the routes, but in the people who come together to face…

• About this section
• Building your team overview
• Nuturing participants
• Nominating participants
• Reluctance is good
• Grassroots first
• Family support
• Tips on encouraging participation

Health and safety

Keeping participants safe while preserving the challenge’s transformative power requires understanding the difference between meaningful discomfort and genuine danger. This section helps you navigate health…

• About this section
• Health and safety overview
• Avoid winter
• Fasting
• First aid
• Respect limits
• Staying safe
• Staying well
• Timing
• Weather contingency planning
• Crisis management during the event

Fundraising

While the personal transformation and community building are invaluable, the practical impact of your Trials & Tribulations challenge comes through the funds raised for supporting…

• About this section
• Fundraising overview
• Do it for charity
• Fundraising platforms
• Promoting your cause
• Talking to a charity about your fundraiser
• Sample fundraising page
• Sponsorship and fiqh considerations
• Social media promotion

On the day

The day of your Trials & Tribulations challenge is when all your planning transforms into lived experience. This section guides you through facilitating each stage…

• About this section
• On the day overview
• Leadership on the day
• Facilitating the gathering
• Managing the trek
• Guiding participants through obstacles
• Managing the return journey
• Facilitating evening meal and reflection
• Final prayers and departure

Resources

You can freely download and use the resources in this section. Where possible, please credit refugee.run as the source, as outlined in licensing and attribution.

• About this section
• Sample participant consent form – London iSoc
• Sample parental consent form – school challenge
• Sample participant consent form – Tough Mother
• Sample participant information pack
• Sample participant consent form – Tough Muslimah
• Sample guidance for particpants
• Sample promotional material
• Sample media consent form
• Suggested routes
• Photos for challenge promotion
• Artwork for challenge promotion

Travel and transport

Getting your team safely between venues while maintaining the challenge’s spirit requires thoughtful transport planning that balances practical logistics with meaningful experience. This section helps…

• About this section
• Travel and transport overview
• Getting there and back
• Car share
• Minibus hire
• Public transport

Natural obstacles

You can create meaningful challenges using natural features and simple obstacles. This approach requires more planning and safety consideration, but can be just as effective for building resilience and understanding refugee experiences.

Event planning

This section covers the essential planning elements that transform your vision into a safe, legal, and transformative experience.

• About this section
• Event planning overview
• Understanding roles
• Staying true to the vision
• Informed consent
• Risk assessments
• Safeguarding
• Legal issues
• Legal compliance for different contexts
• Securing business sponsorship
• Managing challenge finances
• Interfaith and inclusive adaptations
• Managing mixed-ability groups
• Media planning
• Realism versus ethics
• Equipment and supplies checklist

Event briefing

Two weeks before your challenge is the crucial time for detailed participant preparation. This section provides templates and guidance for briefing participants on everything they…

• About this section
• Event briefing overview
• Briefing participants on what to wear
• Briefing participants on what to bring
• Briefing participants on meal planning
• Briefing participants on the itinerary
• Fitness plan for particpants

Post-event

The end of your Trials & Tribulations challenge marks the beginning of its lasting impact. This section guides you through the crucial post-event period that…

• About this section
• Post-event overview
• Check-in and follow-up after the challenge
• Follow-up discussions and lessons learned
• Organising the formal charity dinner celebration
• Creating and sharing media content

Briefing participants on what to wear

Two weeks before your challenge is the perfect time to have a detailed conversation with participants about clothing. What they wear is central to the challenge's meaning.

Briefing participants on what to bring

Getting the packing right can make or break someone's challenge experience. Your participants need to bring enough to stay safe and comfortable, but not so much that they're carrying unnecessary weight.

Social media promotion

Social media can supercharge your fundraising, but it works differently than you might expect. Success comes from authentic storytelling and genuine engagement, not from posting constantly or having massive follower numbers.

Sponsorship and fiqh considerations

Many Muslims want to ensure their fundraising activities align with Islamic principles. This guide helps understand the Islamic framework around charitable giving and fundraising.

Sample fundraising page

Creating a compelling fundraising page is crucial for your success, but knowing what to write can feel overwhelming. Use this template to connect with donors to explain your challenge and cause.

Talking to a charity about your fundraiser

Getting your chosen charity involved in your challenge can transform your fundraising from good to exceptional. Most charities are delighted to support grassroots fundraising efforts, but they need to know you exist first.

Promoting your cause

Getting people excited about supporting your challenge takes more than just posting a link on social media. You need to tell a story that connects with people's hearts and shows them why their support matters.

Fundraising platforms

Choosing the right platform for collecting donations can make a huge difference to your fundraising success. Each platform has its own strengths and costs, so understand your options before asking people for money.

Do it for charity

When your participants wade through mud and push their limits, they're not just having an adventure. They're standing in solidarity with refugees and raising vital funds for those who need it most.

Public transport

Public transport can be a practical and economical option for getting to your challenge, especially when combined with walking as part of the experience.

Minibus hire

Hiring a minibus can be an excellent transport solution for medium-sized groups, keeping everyone together while remaining cost-effective.