29 Jun New geocache initiative launched to help businesses build back better post pandemic
Braintree District Council has 100 geocaches to give away to local businesses.
The Council is inviting businesses to claim the geocaches and hide them, near to where they do business, as a way of attracting visitors and customers and boosting trade.
Geocaching is a type of treasure hunt of people looking for caches, or hidden stashes of objects. Hiders provide online clues for seekers and seekers use global positioning system devices to find the hidden caches or treasures.
The geocaches are for customer facing businesses, such as shops, cafes, restaurants and hairdressers.
Businesses will be expected to hide the geocaches in safe and suitable locations near to their premises.
The geocaches are disguised to look like snails and slugs and must be registered on the national geocache website www.geocaching.com to allow individuals to hunt for them.
The initiative is open to businesses across the district.
The wider aim of the scheme is to support the growth of local businesses and get people exercising and out into the fresh air.
The funding comes from the Government’s Welcome Back Fund and forms part of a plan to help businesses build back better from the pandemic.
European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) has been used to support the Welcome Back Fund.
Businesses should email [email protected] to request a geocache.
Cllr Tom Cunningham, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth at Braintree District Council, said: “Geocaching is a well-known and well organised treasure hunt for people of every age and ability. Placing geocaches near your business is a good way of attracting customers and boosting trade and not only that it gets people exercising and outside enjoying the environment.”
In addition to this particular initative, Braintree District Council has also boosted the look and feel of shop fronts and organised events and activities in a bid to increase footfall and encourage people back into town centres.
