Kristina Pedder meets Joseph Westnedge, BSAC’ s University coordinator, to ask him about his volunteer role
FACTFILE
Name: Joseph Westnedge Job titles: University Coordinator Area covered: UK universities First dive: 19 March 2022
VOLUNTEERLIFE Further education fundamentals
Kristina Pedder meets Joseph Westnedge, BSAC’ s University coordinator, to ask him about his volunteer role
Sheffield-based Joe Westnedge belongs to Sheffield University SAC( SUSAC); South Bay Scuba at Scarborough; and North-East Derbyshire SAC. Each gives him opportunities to develop his skills.
Joe, a Dive Leader and Open Water Instructor in his 20s with some 240 logged dives, is also an approved twin set and accelerated decompression procedures instructor. He enjoys helping Sports Divers extend their range.“ I find it important to log my dives as a record of experience. I also log when I instruct, to make sure I get a balance in the types of diving I do,” he says.
In SUSAC, Joe was Equipment Officer for a year. Sitting on the club’ s committee brought the challenges Uni clubs face into focus. There’ s such a high turnover of members with very limited finances to spend on activities. This understanding was a good foundation for his volunteer role as BSAC’ s University Coordinator. Joe has been in post for just over a year now, ensuring that the university club network gets the support it needs.
He networks with university club committees to provide their feedback to HQ. He also works closely with the regional coaching teams, attending bi-monthly meetings to help facilitate training support where possible. When not in the water or at work he tries to get out and about on branch visits wherever possible. If there is anything that could be better, he says, contact him( unicoordinator @ bsac. com).
Joe is Training Officer at NEDSAC and is bringing a new spin to training where he can.“ This gives me insight into the wider BSAC community,” he says.“ I also help out with regional courses such as Practical Rescue
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SKILLSTIP
Every dive is
“ an opportunity to hone your skills. If conditions allow, use safety stops or deco stops to practise drills. This could include switching to your alternate source for a short period of time to ensure it is functional.
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