GOT A QUESTION?

• We want paddling to be a safe and fun activity, open to everyone.
• One of our roles as a Governing Body is to ensure systems and processes are in place to minimise risk.
• As such we have worked closely with Paddle UK and other governing bodies to learn lessons from the findings of reports on safeguarding issues experienced in other sports, (e.g. the Whyte report into gymnastics). We are committed to putting in place expertise and training to support the safeguarding and safety of paddlers.
• Following the follow-up reports by coroners, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, and others into a number of paddling-related incidents, including Haverfordwest, the Kerry River, and the Great Orme, we want to ensure those coaches and leaders that take responsibility for paddlers have the required level of training, qualification, and support to ensure the safety of all participants.

Paddle Northern Ireland has a range of support available to assist with meeting the Standards for Deployment.

Instructing

An Instructor, Stadium Raft Guide, Bellboat Helm provides introductory or taster sessions in a managed venue to groups of novices under the safety framework of a deployer.

Leading

Leaders provide journey activities, giving ‘top tips’ to aid enjoyment and ensure progress on the trip, they are able to work autonomously, ensuring safety frameworks are in place and making professional judgements and informed decisions on the suitable environment and craft taking into account their own skills, experience and knowledge as well as those they are leading.

Coaching

Coaches provide sessional ‘learn to paddle’ activity, they are able to work autonomously, ensuring safety frameworks are in place and making professional judgements and informed decisions on the suitable environment and craft taking into account their own skills, experience and knowledge as well as those they are coaching

As a BCU/BC/BCAB Coach or Leader you have been assessed that you are able to make appropriate professional judgement, and use informed decisions on the suitable environment and craft taking into account your own skills, experience and knowledge as well as those you are coaching/leading. Working outside of your formal qualification remit, would require a robust and detailed risk assessment to be carried out, a recorded and current skills verification approved by the committee gaining assurances from experienced coaches/leaders holding an appropriate qualification within the discipline and environment.

The Environmental Definitions & Deployment Guidance for Instructors, Coaches & Leaders document provides recommendations for ratios and remits.

It is best practice to keep yourself up to date with the latest developments in safeguarding children and adults at risk. Safeguarding training raises awareness of the tell-tale signs of abuse and gives tools and confidence needed to deal with any issue sensitively, appropriately and effectively. The safeguarding training requirements document provides information on the type and level of 

safeguarding training that is required depending on your role and interaction with children and/or vulnerable adults.

The Health and Safety Executive provides detailed support to help you decide what provision you need to make and support to help you undertake a first-aid needs assessment. This assessment should consider the circumstances of your workplace, organisation or Club, your team and the hazards and risks that may be present. The findings will help you decide what first-aid arrangements you need to 

put in place.

It is the responsibility of British Canoeing Awarding Body Instructors, Coaches and Leaders and/or their deployer to evaluate their likely work and the type of situations that they can reasonably expect to encounter, and to maintain current appropriate First Aid training. Influencing factors such as remoteness, facilities to hand, other trained First Aid provision available, etc. will need to be considered. As part of this process, it is important to consider: The training course content, Course length and Competence of the training provider.

Regulated activities are activities that the Disclosure and Barring Service, Protection of Vulnerable Groups and Access NI Checks can bar people from doing. It is a criminal offence for a barred person to seek to work, or work in, activities from which they are barred. It is also a criminal offence for employers or voluntary organisations to knowingly employ a barred person in regulated activity.

British Canoeing Awarding Body (BCAB), British Canoe Union UK Coaching Certificate(BCU UKCC), and British Canoe Union certificated qualifications remain recognised, highly valued and do not expire, however, to remain current as an Instructor, Leader, or Coach you must meet the requirements in the FAQ below.

To ensure you remain current as an Instructor, Coach or Leader you need to meet the update scheme requirements. This includes the requirement to have the following up to date: On the water membership, First Aid, Safeguarding & Evidence of Continual Professional Development.

Instructors, Coaches and Leaders that meet the update scheme are covered by professional indemnity (covers the cost of compensating clients for loss or damage resulting from negligent services or advice provided).

Those supporting or leading paddlesport activity need to ensure that they are still able to carry out their role, this includes that they are able to cope with the physical demands as well as maintain the knowledge, skills and ability.

For anyone supporting or leading paddlesport activity we all recognise the importance of keeping up to date. The update scheme supports, recognises and makes it easy for you to provide evidence that you are keeping yourself up to date, which is important for your own peace of mind; provides evidence to an employer or deployer and meets the requirements when you attend British Canoeing Awarding Body Training, awards and qualifications. 

To provide evidence and show your active involvement with CPD, we recommend you keep records within your membership portal of your CPD. This might include; evidence of attendance, log of participation, reflective logs, completion reports, certification, etc.

Instructors, Coaches and Leaders must commit to the Update Scheme, and provide evidence of development totalling at least 20 CPD points within each 3-year period.

As a registered learner you are insured (professional Indemnity) during your consolidation period between training and assessment if directly supervised by a qualified coach or leader for the same discipline and environment as you are registered.

As NGB’s for Paddlesport across the UK we only recognise qualifications and training that aligns with CIMSPA Professional Standards, and is delivered by Awarding Organisations regulated by OfQual Qualification Wales and CCEA. Other training providers offering courses can be used as part of an accreditation of prior learning (APL) application and could be used towards evidence of continual professional development.

The standards for deployment have been put together to ensure all those involved within paddlesport activity have a safe and enjoyable experience, and that the standards have been thoroughly considered and deemed reasonable. For those that have an association with a National Association it may be difficult to affiliate and gain insurance, it could also be deemed that by not following the standards of deployment is putting those in your care at risk.

Most of the criteria are already held in the National Association JustGo membership system and available to view via a report download or by viewing each record. Further training and support will be provided by the National Associations in due course.

It is required that all those in roles requiring safeguarding training will have this in place by 31st December 2024. All other requirements are required to be in place by December 2026. We encourage all those in scope of this to engage at an early opportunity and work towards the requirements as opportunities are available.

A current BCAB coach or leader can make an informed decision and professional judgement in using an assistant on sessions/journeys. Someone that has completed a formal BCAB training course (coach discipline specific training or leadership training) would be deemed as appropriate to support such activity. The qualified coach/leader would have overall responsibility and maintain line of sight during the session/journey.

A risk assessment taking into consideration the assistants knowledge and skills, the individuals on the session as well as the environment to consider whether the recommended ratios within the environmental definitions document can be increased by the use of an assistant.