Respect limits
Part of organising a successful challenge is recognising that everyone has different physical abilities and making sure everyone can participate meaningfully and safely within their own capabilities.
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Guidance
118 guides
Avoid winter
You might think running your Trials & Tribulations challenge in winter would make it more "authentic" and challenging, but honestly, it's not worth the risks.
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Risk assessments
Risk assessments help you consider what could go wrong and how you'll prevent it or deal with it. You don't need to become a health and safety expert, but you do need to think through the basics to keep everyone safe.
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Staying true to the vision
As you plan your challenge, you may face pressure to make things easier or more comfortable. Think carefully before you compromise on the core elements that make it meaningful.
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Safeguarding
When you’re organising a challenge that involves young people or vulnerable adults, safeguarding is vital to ensure everyone feels safe and protected throughout.
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Realism versus ethics
How to balance making your challenge realistic and meaningful with keeping everyone safe and comfortable. You want people to understand what refugees go through, but you also want them to come home feeling empowered rather than traumatised.
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Media planning
Capturing memories of your challenge can be wonderful for participants and inspiring for others in your community, but it's important to handle photography and videos thoughtfully.
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Legal issues
Understanding your legal obligations, obtaining proper consent, and conducting thorough risk assessments allows participants to engage fully with the challenge knowing they’re in safe hands.
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Informed consent
It's important that everyone knows what they're signing up for, to ensure everyone feels informed and comfortable with what they'll be doing.
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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
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Nominating participants
One of the biggest challenges in organising your Trials & Tribulations event is getting people to actually sign up. This is where nomination becomes a powerful tool that transforms hesitation into participation.
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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…
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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
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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 —…
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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
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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…
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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
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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…
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