September 2015 Mail Out

Welcome to our September Mail Out! We hope you had an amazing summer. In this month's update you will find all the latest information, updates and opportunities from the London Region.

Mountain Training Course subsidies – money off for volunteer leaders Plas Y Brenin, The National Mountain Sports Centre, have money available to help volunteer leaders in the outdoors access the training they need in order for them to perform better as a leader or coach in mountain sports. Currently aimed at furthering hillwalking, mountaineering, climbing, mountain biking and paddlesports in England, the funding available comes in the form of a direct subsidy on training or assessment courses at Plas y Brenin. Leaders can apply for subsidies for the following courses: • Climbing Wall Award Training and Assessment • Single Pitch Award Training and Assessment • Hill Skills • Mountain Skills • Lowland Leader Training and Assessment • Hill and Moorland Leader Training and Assessment • Expediton Skills • Mountain Leader Training and Assessment (Summer) The amount of subsidy is linked to an index of areas where those interested in becoming outdoor leaders may be lacking in opportunity or advantage. 75% off courses for leaders in these areas: Barking & Dagenham, Brent, Camden, City of Westminster, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harringey, Islington, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest. 50% off for these areas: Croydon, Hillingdon, Hounslow, K&C, Redbridge, Wandsworth. 25% off for these areas: Barnet, Bexley, Bromley, Harrow, Havering, Merton, Sutton. For more information and to apply, visit this link www.pyb.co.uk/future-leaders-fund.php   Assessor Requests Tottenham Hotspur Foundation The Tottenham Hotspur Foundation require an Assessor for their Silver expedition in the Box Hill area, 1st - 3rd October. Please contact kieran.bryant@tottenhamhotspur.com if you are able to help. Spurs also require another Assessor for Bronze on the following dates:  1st - 3rd October – Silver expedition – Box Hill 9th - 10th October – Bronze expedition – Epping Forest The Charter School The Charter School require an Assessor for their Gold Canoe Expedition on 17th - 20th September on the River Severn.  Please contact Brian Thomas at BThomas@charter.southwark.sch.uk if you can help.

Additional Needs Network Meeting The next Additional Needs Network Meeting will be on Thursday 22nd October 2015 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 please email Hayley.Hyman@DofE.org.         New e-induction training course  There is a new online e-induction training course which is for any adult (staff or volunteer) who is involved in running or supporting DofE programmes. This free e-learning module is an essential introduction to the DofE, the programme principles and how the DofE is run. The course can be found here.

Training courses from DofE London A reminder that DofE London have a number of training courses available for Leaders: Expedition Assessor Accreditation: Course Dates: 30th September 2015 or 9th December 2015 Course Fee: £135 Introduction To The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for Leaders: Course Dates: 22nd September 2015, 21st October 2015 or 18th November 2015. Course Fee: £35 Expedition Supervisor Training Scheme:Course Date: 11th November 2015 Course Fee: £135 Countryside Leader Award Training: Course Dates: 15th - 18th October 2015 or 3rd - 6th March 2016 Course Fee: £105 + £35 registration Countryside Leader Award Assessment: Course Dates: 15th - 17th April 2016 Course Fee: £45 For more information see our website and training flyer.

Littering is trashy!          There has been a rise in complaints regarding littering by groups out on expedition. Please make sure all participants are trained and aware of the importance of caring for the environment.   For more information on The Countryside Code please visit their website. DofE London’s visit to the smiling coast of West Africa      Participants from the New Leaders Programme and the Gold Award Forum took part in a residential to The Gambia last month. Some of the highlights of the trip were a visit to the Lisa Kent Meridian School in Busambala, where they helped decorate classrooms and clear the playing field, a visit to Kachikally Crocodile Pool where they had the opportunity to touch live crocodiles and a homestay with young people from the President's International Award. One participant said, "It was amazing! Such a great experience; thank you to all who made it happen."             Workshop on delivering Gold programmes This half day workshop will train Leaders in how to deliver successful Gold DofE programmes and roll them out in their school / centre. It will cover the specifics of delivering Gold DofE programmes, from appropriately planning and seeking funding to timetabling meetings, using eDofE to your advantage and covering the specifics of the Expedition and Residential sections. You should attend an Introduction to the DofE course OR have knowledge of DofE programmes before you attend this course. Victoria Charity Centre Free course (£50 cancellation fee)  Dates: 20th October 2015 2nd December 2015 3rd February 2016 Please contact Lucy.Mckay@DofE.org for a booking form.

Anything for next month? Do you struggle to find Assessors for expeditions? Does a participant need to switch expedition groups? Do you want advice from the London network? Are you recruiting new members of staff or seeking volunteers? If so, then let us know and we will inform the network. Email Mark.Allen@DofE.org with your contribution.