Qualifications and Awards Update
British Canoeing qualifications have been regulated and accepted as the industry standard for over 35 years . They are the only Awarding Body offering Paddlesport Instructor and Coaching qualifications and included in the Register of Regulated Qualifications .
Holding a British Canoeing qualification provides confidence to club committees , employers and members of the public that instructors , coaches and leaders offering paddlesport activity have undergone a highly regarded and regulated process .
Over the past four years , the coaching department at British Canoeing has developed qualifications and awards based around an educational philosophy , providing choice and varied opportunities , tailored to the individual , to support paddler ’ s development .
Whether you are a member of a club supporting a local community , or want to provide paddlesport activity in a commercial setting , the new approach provides a multitude of opportunities to develop your qualifications based on the needs of the individual without needing to follow a fixed linear pathway .
There is no need for coaches or leaders to transfer or retrain into the new system as all previous qualifications issued , including from British Canoe Union ( BCU ) and the United Kingdom Coaching Certificate ( UKCC ), will continue to be recognised and valued .
British Canoeing require individuals to have an up to date first aid qualification , have attended safeguarding training within the last three years and have recorded relevant continual professional development , to ensure currency . Individuals must also hold a National Association membership .
New Instructor , Coaching and Leadership Qualifications www . britishcanoeing . org . uk
The Instructor , Coaching and Leadership qualification suite has undergone a comprehensive review and design phase , considering current thinking and research . The suite now aligns to the educational philosophy to provide :
• Individualised pathways
• Direct access to assessments , recognising previous experience
• Removal of unnecessary hurdles
• Supportive resources for individuals to consider for their development
• Online training opportunities , reducing the need to travel and improve accessibility
Not only does the new approach provide easier access for individuals to gain highly regarded and regulated qualifications , they ’ re also more cost effective than ever :
• Removing unnecessary prerequisites
• Providing the ability to go straight onto an assessment by recognising previous experience and skill sets
• Enabling clubs to deliver their own bespoke training programme ; reducing travel and costs for their members wanting to support their club by gaining a British Canoeing qualification
• Online training opportunities for the Coach Award , and safeguarding requirements