South Wales Outdoor Activity Providers Group

24-26 Jan 2024 Hill & Moorland Leader Assessment (by Outdoor Matters)
2024-01-24 00:00 - 2024-01-26 23:59 (Europe/London)
Join us for 3 days demonstrating the skills and knowledge required to lead groups in Hill & Moorland terrain in the UK. We run a calm and relaxed assessment where you are given the opportunity to perform at your best and encouraged to learn something new too.

£260, Abercraf

24 Jan 2024 SWOAPG Annual General Meeting (online)
2024-01-24 18:30 - 20:00 | Online
Rescheduled from 5 December.

This year’s AGM will once again be via Teams video-conference and will will include the usual ‘formalities’ and discussion / decisions around Glasbury-Hay Concordat Arrangements and future Membership Fees.

Please let us know in advance (RSVP using the button below, or by e-mail) if you are planning to attend, so we can prepare for the necessary voting processes.

More information and relevant documents will be provided in due course via links in the agenda below.

Teams Meeting Link to follow in due course…

Draft Agenda:

Welcome & Apologies – apologies received from Justin Bradley, Steffan Davies, Chris Pierce, Mark Soanes

Matters Arising from 2022 AGM – see 2022 AGM Minutes

Overview of recent and planned activity – a brief summary of what we’ve been up to and what we are planning

Annual Report & Accounts – see 2023 Annual Report and 2022-23 Accounts

Election of Steering Group, Directors and Chair – James Martin to be confirmed; Steve Bird, Steffan Davies and Jet Moore to be re-elected as Steering Group Members. Steve Bird to be re-elected as Director. Mike Smith to be confirmed as Director & Chair

River Wye Glasbury-Hay – discussion / decision on whether to progress with Powys Concordat

2024 Membership Fees – discussion / decision on whether to introduce new fee structure (NB the ‘default’ inflationary increase agreed previously would result in Full Membership £94 & Associate Membership £32)

Q&A Session

3 Feb 2024 Camping Leader Assessment (by Outdoor Matters)
2024-02-03 00:00 - 23:59
Join us for a day demonstrating the skills and knowledge required to lead groups camping. We run a calm and relaxed assessment where you are given the opportunity to perform at your best and encouraged to learn something new too.

£90, Abercraf

7-8 Feb 2024 Mountain Training Climbing Wall Instructor Training (at RockUK Summit Centre)
2024-02-07 00:00 - 2024-02-08 23:59 | RockUK Summit Centre, The Old Drift Mine, Treharris, CF46 6RD, United Kingdom
Location: Summit Centre (Merthyr Tydfil) and Green Spider (Hereford)

Cost: £150.00

Provider: Joby Maw Davies

7-9 Feb 2024 Hill & Moorland Leader Assessment (by Outdoor Matters)
2024-02-07 00:00 - 2024-02-09 23:59

10-11 Feb 2024 Lowland Leader Assessment (by Outdoor Matters)
2024-02-10 00:00 - 2024-02-11 23:59
Spend 2 days demonstrating the skills and knowledge required to lead groups in Lowland terrain in the UK. We run a calm and relaxed assessment where you are given the opportunity to perform at your best and encouraged to learn something new too.

£170, Gower

15-16 Feb 2024 BCA Cave Leader Training (by Tom Partridge)
2024-02-15 00:00 - 2024-02-16 23:59
£180, click link for more info

17-18 Feb 2024 Lowland Leader Training (by Outdoor Matters)
2024-02-17 00:00 - 2024-02-18 23:59
Join us for 2 days building the skills and knowledge required to lead groups in Lowland terrain in the UK. This Mountain Training approved course is run by an experienced trainer and includes post course support and learning material.

£160, Gower

17-18 Feb 2024 Outdoor First Aid (by Savage Adventures)
2024-02-17 00:00 - 2024-02-18 23:59
I’m running an outdoor first aid 16hr in Swansea if anyone needs a course before the season starts back up. £140pp

29 Feb-1 Mar 2024 BCA Vertical Leader Training (by Tom Partridge)
2024-02-29 00:00 - 2024-03-01 23:59
Based in South Wales

£180pp

1-3 Mar 2024 Hill & Moorland Leader Training (by Outdoor Matters)
2024-03-01 00:00 - 2024-03-03 23:59
Join us for 3 days building the skills and knowledge required to lead groups in Hill & Moorland terrain in the UK. This Mountain Training approved course is run by an experienced trainer and includes post course support and learning material.

£240, Abercraf

2 Mar 2024 National Coasteering Charter pre-season Workshop - open to all coasteering providers (by Tom Partridge for NCC)
2024-03-02 00:00 - 23:59
This workshop (and a similar one on 15 March) will have a practical element to them where we will look at rescues and scenarios as part of the training but also there will be a session on the day looking at communication methods and the updated ‘Safety Advice for Coasteering Providers’ which will have been approved by the NCC membership by this point.

NCC members are free, non members are £20 (or you can join the NCC!)

Book online or by e-mail via the ‘organiser’ details…

Mon 4 Mar 2024 CPD Workshop: Learn about…Clydach Gorge
2024-03-04 09:30 - 16:00
Come and join Alan Bowring (Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority’s Geopark Development Officer) to explore the interplay of geology, speleology, ecology, mythology and archaeology in what may be the most fascinating landscape in the entire National Park! Details to be confirmed but will be either a circular or a linear walk (using car or bus shuttle). Participants will need suitable fitness, clothing and equipment for a day’s walk in the prevailing weather, including packed lunch / snacks. Book ‘tickets’ using the buttons below, or e-mail coordinator@swoapg.com.

This is one of our series of practical, outdoor workshops providing opportunities for instructors and providers to learn about some of the areas we work in, both for their own education and to enable them to help their clients to better appreciate these special places.

This workshop is open to all South Wales outdoor instructors and SWOAPG supporters, for whom the following fees will apply:

SWOAPG Members and Supporters: £20 for first employee, £10 each for additional employees (employed staff only, not freelancers, up to 3 staff per Member in first instance, please e-mail the organiser if you wish to book more places).

Non-Members: £52 (this will include Associate Membership until 31 March 2025, enabling you to attend other workshops before then at the Members’ rate).

Once you have booked, the organiser or workshop Provider will be in contact with you to confirm final details.

8 Mar 2024 Camping Leader Assessment (by Outdoor Matters)
2024-03-08 00:00 - 23:59

9 Mar 2024 Mountain Training Indoor Climbing Assistant (training and Assessment) (by RockUK Summit Centre)
2024-03-09 00:00 - 23:59 | RockUK Summit Centre, The Old Drift Mine, Treharris, CF46 6RD, United Kingdom
Cost: £80.00 pp

13-14 Mar 2024 Lowland Leader Assessment (by Outdoor Matters)
2024-03-13 00:00 - 2024-03-14 23:59

15 Mar 2024 National Coasteering Charter pre-season Workshop - open to all coasteering providers (by Tom Partridge for NCC)
2024-03-15 00:00 - 23:59
This workshop (and a similar one on 2 March) will have a practical element to them where we will look at rescues and scenarios as part of the training but also there will be a session on the day looking at communication methods and the updated ‘Safety Advice for Coasteering Providers’ which will have been approved by the NCC membership by this point.

NCC members are free, non members are £20 (or you can join the NCC!)

Book online or by e-mail via the ‘organiser’ details…

16 Mar 2024 BMC FUNdamentals of Climbing 1 (at RockUK Summit Centre)
2024-03-16 00:00 - 23:59 | RockUK Summit Centre, The Old Drift Mine, Treharris, CF46 6RD, United Kingdom
Cost £90.00 – £110.00 pp

Provider: Danielle Griffith

16-17 Mar 2024 Lowland Leader Training (by Outdoor Matters)
2024-03-16 00:00 - 2024-03-17 23:59

17 Mar 2024 BMC FUNdamentals of Climbing 2 (at RockUK Summit Centre)
2024-03-17 00:00 - 23:59 | RockUK Summit Centre, The Old Drift Mine, Treharris, CF46 6RD, United Kingdom
Cost: £90.00 – £110.00 pp

Provider: Danielle Griffith

19 Mar 2024 CPD Workshop: Learn about...Porth yr Ogof
2024-03-19 10:00 - 21:00 | Cwm Porth Car Park, Ystradfellte, United Kingdom
This workshop is intended for instructors who’d like to learn more about Porth yr Ogof. We’ve secured the support of several Cave Instructors as well as Alan Bowring of BBNPA and we will be offering three separate sessions (10am-1pm, 2-5pm and 6-9pm) with the following topics covered in each session (subject to sufficient demand):

Cave familiarisation (for those who may not know it well);

Explore lesser-known parts of the cave (for those who do!);

Cave geology;

Avoiding and/or using the water;

Using the avens (familiarisation for ‘Level 1’ and – for those of you with ‘vertical’ aptitude & equipment – ‘Level 2’ ropework)

The workshop will be open to staff employed by SWOAPG Members (initially limited to 3 per business/organisation, depending on capacity and demand); freelancers need to be Associate Members at least.
Price £20 for one session, £35 for 2 sessions, £45 for 3 sessions.
Book ‘tickets’ using the buttons below AND please complete this Session Preference Form (apologies for the 2-stage process) – or e-mail coordinator@swoapg.com if the tickets don’t seem to offer what you want!

20-22 Mar 2024 Hill & Moorland Leader Assessment (by Outdoor Matters)
2024-03-20 00:00 - 2024-03-22 23:59

23 Mar 2024 British Canoeing Awarding Body Paddlesport Safety & Rescue course (by Steve Rayner Outdoor Pursuits)
2024-03-23 00:00 - 23:59
The British Canoeing Awarding Body (BCAB) Paddlesport Safety & Rescue course aims to provide paddlers with the key safety and rescue skills required to operate safely and to be able to deal with common problems in a sheltered water environment. The course is designed for all paddlers irrespective of their chosen craft. The objective is to introduce, explore and practise simple strategies and safe skills that can provide you with the tools to solve common paddling issues.

The Paddlesport Safety & Rescue course is a pre-requisite for the British Canoeing Awarding Body Paddlesport Instructor Award.

No minimum age (although paddlers must be physically able to undertake the course!).

£100 each. Contact organiser or follow link to book places or find out more.

29 Mar 2024 Mountain Training Rock Skills Introduction (1 day) (by RockUK Summit Centre)
2024-03-29 00:00 - 23:59 | RockUK Summit Centre, The Old Drift Mine, Treharris, CF46 6RD, United Kingdom
Cost £65.00 pp

4-5 Apr 2024 Mountain Training Rock Skills Intermediate (2 days) (by RockUK Summit Centre)
2024-04-04 00:00 - 2024-04-05 23:59 | RockUK Summit Centre, The Old Drift Mine, Treharris, CF46 6RD, United Kingdom
Cost £100.00 pp

10-11 Apr 2024 Hill & Moorland Leader Training (by Outdoor Matters)
2024-04-10 00:00 - 2024-04-11 23:59

17-19 Apr 2024 Hill & Moorland Leader Assessment (by Outdoor Matters)
2024-04-17 00:00 - 2024-04-19 23:59

2-3 May 2024 Lowland Leader Assessment (by Outdoor Matters)
2024-05-02 00:00 - 2024-05-03 23:59

8-10 May 2024 Hill & Moorland Leader Training (by Outdoor Matters)
2024-05-08 00:00 - 2024-05-10 23:59

16-17 May 2024 NCC Coasteering Guide Award Training (by Tom Partridge)
2024-05-16 00:00 - 2024-05-17 23:59
Based on Gower and Pembrokeshire

£150pp

Delivered by Tom Partridge & Gary Evans
