Mayday! Mayday! DofE Mail Out Incoming!

Just kidding; there's nothing to be alarmed about in this month's missive from London. We know what you're really here for - big news for our DofE LGBTQ project and a chance to win Amazon vouchers - so I'll give it a rest and let you get to the good stuff!

Expedition Requests The Charlton Champions The Leaders at the Charlton Athletic Community Trust are looking to expand their DofE offer by providing Silver expeditions for the first time. As such, they would be interested in shadowing another group’s Silver venture and learning from the Leaders. If you would be happy to accommodate this (and potentially have an extra pair of hands), please contact Patricia Holczimmer atPatricia.Holczimmer@cact.org.uk. Elmgreen Explorers Kevin Welsh from the Elmgreen School is looking for an opportunity to complete his supported assessment at the earliest opportunity. If you have a qualifying expedition going out and can assist, please contact Kevin at kwelsh@the-elmgreen-school.org.uk. Epping Forest Escapades Skinners Academy requires an additional Assessor to accompany an expedition to Epping Forest on Wednesday 15th & Thursday 16th July. Interested parties should email Catherine O'Neill coneill@skinnersacademy.org.uk or Peter Leggeplegge@skinnersacademy.org.uk. The Green School Gang A Silver expedition group from the Green School needs an Assessor for their venture to the Corfe Castle area on the Friday 3rd - Sunday 5th July. Please contact Andrea Lawlor at andrea.lawlor@thegreenschool.net if you are able to assist. Box Hill Brigade Three Bronze expedition groups from Bacons College require an Assessor for their venture to Box Hill, Surrey on Monday 12th & Tuesday 13th July. If you can assist please contact Megan Jones at M.Jones@baconscollege.co.uk.

Additional Needs Updates Additional Needs Network Meeting The next Additional Needs Network Meeting will be on Thursday 22nd July 2015, 5:00-6:45pm at the London Regional Office in the Victoria Charity Centre. Find minutes of previous meetings here. If you would like to attend the above meeting you can find more information here or by emailing Hayley.Hyman@DofE.org.           Open expeditions - don't miss a trip! The London Region will again be running a selection of open expeditions for Bronze and Gold participants from London. These expeditions are aimed at participants who may have missed a locally run trip or were not able to take part last year. More detailed information (including prices, dates and locations) can be found on our website and these downloads: Bronze & Gold. Please note, participants will need to visit the London Office for a briefing and complete route planning for the qualifying expedition. Places are allocated on a first to book basis. For further information (excluding Gold training & practice) please email Leanne.Chapman@DofE.org or call 020 7630 9092.

Expedition Accreditation Due to the exceptionally busy expedition season alongside technical difficulties we are experiencing with the EAAS database you may have noticed delays with processing accreditation/re-accreditations.  Thank you for your patience whilst we process the backlog however, if you foresee any issues arising for your Assessors that may expire before planned assessments this season please contact your DofE Manager or Operations Officer to discuss. We now have updated EAAS forms which are available on the DofE website here.  For all future accreditation and re-accreditations please only use these new forms; previous versions of paperwork will not be accepted after July 2015. A reminder of the accreditation process can be found in the 'How to get accredited in seven simple steps' section below. If you require any additional information on Expedition Assessor Accreditation, please contact Lucy.McKay@DofE.org

How to get accredited in seven simple steps 1. Delegate books on to an EAAS course. 2. Delegate completes required EAAS/3 Form with appropriate signatures. 3. Delegate completes required pre-course online training. 4. Delegate brings completed  paperwork to the EAAS course. [NOTE: only submit paperwork iffully completed] 5. Delegate undertakes a Supported Assessment within two years of attending an EAAS course 6. Completed Supported Assessment (EAAS/5) submitted to LRO which is signed by an appropriate Supporting Assessor and the DofE Manager for the LO. 7. LRO will process accreditation and send the Assessor’s ID badge and certificate.         Food for thought Association for Nutrition (AfN) are undertaking a project looking at creating a set of standards for people working or volunteering in sport, fitness and leisure. So that these standards are pitched at the right levels and cover the appropriate topics, AfN are undertaking research into people’s current knowledge, confidence and training in nutrition. Please take a few minutes to complete their online survey and stand the chance to win one of four £50 Amazon vouchers. Your answers will help develop training and support for those working in the sport, fitness and leisure industry. The survey is here.            Join the London Pride March The DofE in London has been running a ground-breaking programme for LGBTQ young people across the capital - and needs your support! Funded by Soho Estates, the programme is based on the Bronze Award and incorporates LGBTQ mentoring and social campaigning. The participants have secured a space to represent the DofE in the London Pride March on Saturday 27 June. They are inviting you to join them on the march - all support is welcome! Please email Maryah.Mufti@DofE.org for more information. Find out more about the project here.

And that's it for this month! Have you got anything you'd like to share with the rest of London? Send your items along to Mark.Allen@DofE.org before 18th June and we will be sure to include it in the next edition. Goodbye for now from DofE London!