South Wales Outdoor Activity Providers Group

7-8 Oct 2020 British Canoeing White Water Kayak Leader Training (by Adventure Beyond)
2020-10-07 - 2020-10-08 | Carmarthenshire

7-8 Oct 2020 RLSS NWSMP Training & Assessment (by Gary Evans Outdoors)
2020-10-07 - 2020-10-08 | Carmarthenshire
This RLSS National Water Safety Management Programme (NWSMP) Award is predominantly aimed at those working in, or close to, water in outdoor environments and is particularly suitable for Outdoor Instructors and Assistants.
There are three levels to the award:
Level 1 – Water Safety Awareness
Level 2 – Beach, River, Still Water
Level 3 – In Water Rescue
The programme starts with Level 1, the Water Safety Awareness Module, which provides the theoretical platform for more advanced modules. Environment Specific Modules cover hazards associated with beach, river and still water as well as basic rescue techniques. The In-Water Rescue Module covers essential in-water rescue knowledge and tests competence.
Endorsed by the Health and Safety Executive for its sensible, proportionate, reasonable and balanced advice to both those responsible for groups around the water margin or workers operating in, on or near water and in particular, managing the risk from operating around the water margin. The NWSMP awards are the most pragmatic solution for outdoor professionals working in coastal, river and water’s edge environments. It will complement your existing qualifications and will give you concrete evidence of your competencies to manage groups in and around water.
Venue – South Wales
Price – £195 per person.
More Information – https://www.garyevansoutdoors.co.uk/rlss-nwsmp

POSTPONED 1 Oct 2020 Caving and Covid-19: A Practical Workshop for Providers and Instructors to Share Good Practice
2020-10-01 18:00 - 21:00 (Europe/London) | Cwm Porth Car Park, Ystradfellte, United Kingdom
***Postponed due to Covid-19 Lock-downs***
!! NB this workshop will now take place 6-9pm (not 9.30am-1pm as previously advertised) !!
This is a Practical Workshop, based at Porth yr Ogof, providing an opportunity for Providers and Instructors to explore experiences, lessons and ‘good practice’ relating to caving and Covid-19.
With some Providers and Instructors having re-commenced activities since lockdown – and others still planning how best to do so – SWOAPG is keen to provide opportunities for you to share your experiences and help to develop and promote ‘good practice’ for operating in the new and unfamiliar environment of social distancing etc. We are therefore organising a series of workshops for this purpose.
The workshop will be hosted for SWOAPG by Steffan Davies of Hawk Adventures: his role will be to oversee safety and facilitate sharing between participants, rather than to deliver training or tell anyone how to do things, although he’ll obviously bring ideas to the table too!
Participants will need to bring all the personal equipment they need for an evening in the cave (cave suit, helmet, lamp, wellies; change of clothes, drinks / snacks, hand sanitiser etc.).
Meet at 6pm at Cwm Porth car park.
Participants will be asked to complete a Hawk Adventures consent / information form, which they will be sent in advance of the event.
Maximum 10 participants – Bookings available soon (once we have confirmed that the workshop is definitely running)!

CANCELLED 1 Oct 2020 Pontneddfechan community liaison ‘surgery’
2020-10-01 16:00 - 18:00 | Pontneddfechan Village Hall, Pontneddfechan, Neath, SA11 5ND, United Kingdom
***Cancelled due to Covid-19 pandemic***
SWOAPG Directors will be holding drop-in ‘surgery’ sessions for the Pontneddfechan local community on the 1st Thursday of every month from April to October 2020. These are intended as an opportunity for local residents to bring forward their observations about activity providers working in the area and to help us build constructive relationships with the local community in ‘Waterfall Country’.

30 Sep 2020 British Canoeing Foundation Safety & Rescue Training course (by Steve Rayner Outdoor Pursuits)
2020-09-30 | Carmarthenshire
***Date changed from 23 Sep***

All my courses will be run in accordance with Covid-19 regulations and guidance.

The FSRT course is intended for all paddlers, coaches and volunteers irrespective of craft or discipline choice, and is available in either bank-based or boat-based option (or a combined course covering both). It provides training on key skills needed to operate safely and deal with common emergencies in a sheltered water environment in any craft. Candidates should be competent paddling in both kayak and canoe to enable them to complete the course, although it is not necessary formally to hold a Personal Performance Award.

The FSRT course is a pre-requisite for the British Canoeing Paddlesport Instructor Award.

The FSRT course comprises a minimum of 8-hours training and is usually conducted over one long day; this course will take place in Brecon.

While there remain restrictions on indoor gatherings, most courses will include video-conference sessions to cover ‘classroom’ topics. These will usually be a few days before and/or after the main ‘practical’ (outdoor) sessions, arranged to suit participants on each course. The dates shown below are for the ‘practical’ sessions only.

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

£75 each. Contact organiser to book places or find out more.

27 Sep 2020 Day Canoe Sailing (by Way2Go Adventures)
2020-09-27 | Carmarthenshire
Never Sailed a canoe before? Have fun learning to sail an Open Canoe!
These will take place on one of the Reservoirs TBC Cost per day £90
e-mail organiser for info

26-27 Sep 2020 British Canoeing Canoe Leader Training (by Adventure Beyond)
2020-09-26 - 2020-09-27 | Carmarthenshire

CANCELLED 24 Sep 2020 Climbing / Mountain Activities and Covid-19: A Practical Workshop for Providers and Instructors to Share Good Practice
2020-09-24 10:00 - 15:00 | Dinas Rock Car Park, Coed-Y-Rhaidyr, Pontneddfechan, SA11 5NU, United Kingdom
***Cancelled due to Rhondda-Cynon-Taff Lockdown***
This is a Practical Workshop, based at Dinas Rock, providing an opportunity for Providers and Instructors to explore experiences, lessons and ‘good practice’ relating to climbing / mountain activities and Covid-19.
With some Providers and Instructors having re-commenced activities since lockdown – and others still planning how best to do so – SWOAPG is keen to provide opportunities for you to share your experiences and help to develop and promote ‘good practice’ for operating in the new and unfamiliar environment of social distancing etc. We are therefore organising a series of workshops for this purpose.
The workshop will be hosted for SWOAPG by Will Kilner of Adventures with Will: his role will be to oversee safety and facilitate sharing between participants, rather than to deliver training or tell anyone how to do things, although he’ll obviously bring ideas to the table too!
Participants will need to bring all the personal equipment they need for a day on the crag (shoes/boots, harness, helmet, climbing hardware, rope; lunch / drinks / snacks, hand sanitiser, face mask etc.).
Meet at 10am at Dinas Rock Car Park (or Pontneddfechan Village Hall, if access to Dinas Rock is closed by bridge engineering works).
Participants will be asked to complete Will’s consent / information form, which they will be sent in advance of the event.
Maximum 10 participants, so please book quickly!
£10 Early Bird Tickets for one person per paid-up SWOAPG Member business / organisation – available until midday Fri 18 Sep
£20 Member Tickets for additional staff of paid-up SWOAPG Members (max 2 per business / organisation) – available until midday Wed 23 Sep
£25 Standard Tickets for both Members and non-Members – available from midday Fri 18 Sep until midday Wed 23 Sep (if there are spaces left by then!)

CANCELLED 21 Sep 2020 Paddlesports and Covid-19: A Practical Workshop for Providers and Instructors to Share Good Practice
2020-09-21 10:00 - 12:00 | Llanelli North Dock, Llanelli, SA15 2LF, United Kingdom
***Cancelled due to lack of bookings***
This is a Practical Workshop, based at North Dock, Llanelli, providing an opportunity for Providers and Instructors to explore experiences, lessons and ‘good practice’ relating to paddlesports and Covid-19.
With some Providers and Instructors having re-commenced activities since lockdown – and others still planning how best to do so – SWOAPG is keen to provide opportunities for you to share your experiences and help to develop and promote ‘good practice’ for operating in the new and unfamiliar environment of social distancing etc. We are therefore organising a series of workshops for this purpose.
The workshop will be hosted for SWOAPG by Steve Bird of LoadedUK: his role will be to oversee safety and facilitate sharing between participants, rather than to deliver training or tell anyone how to do things, although he’ll obviously bring ideas to the table too!
Participants should aim to bring all the personal equipment they need for a couple of hours on the water (craft, paddle, buoyancy aid, helmet, paddling clothing appropriate to the conditions; change of clothes, drinks / snacks, hand sanitiser etc.) – but do contact Steve if you need to borrow any of this.
Meet at 10am at North Dock, Llanelli (SA15 2LF).
Participants will be asked to complete a LoadedUK consent / information form, which they will be sent in advance of the event.
Maximum 12 participants, so please book quickly!
£10 Early Bird Tickets for one person per paid-up SWOAPG Member business / organisation – available until midday Mon 14 Sep
£20 Member Tickets for additional staff of paid-up SWOAPG Members (max 2 per business / organisation) – available until midday Fri 18 Sep
£25 Standard Tickets for both Members and non-Members – available from midday Mon 14 Sep until midday Fri 18 Sep (if there are spaces left by then!)

15 Sep 2020 Gorge-Walking and Covid-19: A Practical Workshop for Providers and Instructors to Share Good Practice
2020-09-15 13:00 - 16:00 | Dinas Rock Car Park, Coed-Y-Rhaidyr, Pontneddfechan, SA11 5NU, United Kingdom
This is a Practical Workshop, based at Dinas Rock / Sychryd Gorge, providing an opportunity for Providers and Instructors to explore experiences, lessons and ‘good practice’ relating to gorge-walking / canyoning and Covid-19.
With some Providers and Instructors having re-commenced activities since lockdown – and others still planning how best to do so – SWOAPG is keen to provide opportunities for you to share your experiences and help to develop and promote ‘good practice’ for operating in the new and unfamiliar environment of social distancing etc. We are therefore organising a series of workshops for this purpose.
The workshop will be hosted for SWOAPG by Tom Sampson of Hampshire Mountain Centre: his role will be to oversee safety and facilitate sharing between participants, rather than to deliver training or tell anyone how to do things, although he’ll obviously bring ideas to the table too!
Participants will need to bring all the personal equipment they need for an afternoon in the gorge (wetsuit, buoyancy aid, helmet, river shoes with ankle support; change of clothes, drinks / snacks, hand sanitiser etc.).
Meet at 1pm at Dinas Rock Car Park (or Pontneddfechan Village Hall, if access to Dinas Rock is closed by bridge engineering works).
Participants will be asked to complete a Hampshire Mountain Centre consent / information form, which they will be sent in advance of the event.
Maximum 12 participants, so please book quickly!
£10 Early Bird Tickets for one person per paid-up SWOAPG Member business / organisation – EXTENDED until midday Mon 14 Sep
£20 Member Tickets for additional staff of paid-up SWOAPG Members (max 2 per business / organisation) – available until midday Mon 14 Sep
£25 Standard Tickets for both Members and non-Members – available from midday Fri 11 Sep until midday Mon 14 Sep (if there are spaces left by then!)

15-16 Sep 2020 BCA Vertical Cave and Mine Leader Training (by Richard Hill)
2020-09-15 - 2020-09-16 | Carmarthenshire
Formerly Level 2 LCMLA Training. 1 space available. Contact Richard Hill for details / booking.

14 Sep 2020 Mellte Code of Conduct Training
2020-09-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Carmarthenshire
This is a Code of Conduct Training session – delivered online via Zoom – for Providers who are signed-up to the NRW Waterfalls Country Concordat. It is a requirement that a representative from each Provider has attended a Code of Conduct Training session if they wish to use of the area for Gorge Walking.
This session is suitable for both new Providers that are starting to use the gorge, as well as established Providers who would like a refresher or to bring new staff up to speed.

Attendees must be either Full Individual Members or staff (including regular freelancers) from Full Corporate Members or Supporters or their staff. Credentials will be checked on booking.

The cost is £25 per Provider (no limit on the number of spaces per Provider), although one free space will be available to Providers who have paid for this year’s Full Membership (and who have not already claimed their free place).
Please ‘Buy Tickets’ and / or RSVP (using the button on the website event listing; or by e-mail) to register your places (you will then receive the Zoom link in due course – please contact us if you have not received this before the event).

8 Sep 2020 Activities and Covid-19: An Online Workshop for Providers and Instructors to Share Good Practice
2020-09-08 15:30 - 17:00 | Carmarthenshire
With some Providers and Instructors having re-commenced activities since lockdown – and others still planning how best to do so – SWOAPG is keen to provide opportunities for you to share your experiences and help to develop and promote ‘good practice’ for operating in the new and unfamiliar environment of social distancing etc. We are therefore organising a series of workshops for this purpose.
This first workshop will be a free, online Zoom session, open to ALL Outdoor Activity Providers and Instructors in South Wales, in which we will:

Summarise our understanding of the key requirements from Welsh Government etc. for preventing Covid-19 transmission – and share some of the ‘good practice’ ideas that emerged in our recent workshop looking a gorge-walking in the Covid-19 environment;
Ask you to share ‘generic’ experiences, lessons and ‘good practice’ that apply across the whole range of outdoor activities (e.g. managing staff, managing clients, handling & cleaning equipment, working in busy venues, etc.); and
Break-out into some short activity-specific discussions to identify key issues that we intend to address in later practical workshops covering e.g. caving, climbing / mountain activities, gorge-walking and paddlesports.

Please RSVP (using the button on the website event listing; or by e-mail) to register your interest (you will then receive the Zoom link in due course – please contact us if you have not received this before the event).

5-6 Sep 2020 British Canoeing Paddlesport Instructor Award course
2020-09-05 - 2020-09-06 | Carmarthenshire

3 Sep 2020 Pontneddfechan community liaison ‘surgery’
2020-09-03 16:00 - 18:00 | Pontneddfechan Village Hall, Pontneddfechan, Neath, SA11 5ND, United Kingdom
SWOAPG Directors will be holding drop-in ‘surgery’ sessions for the Pontneddfechan local community on the 1st Thursday of every month from April to October 2020. These are intended as an opportunity for local residents to bring forward their observations about activity providers working in the area and to help us build constructive relationships with the local community in ‘Waterfall Country’.

CANCELLED 22-23 Aug 2020 British Canoeing Canoe & Kayak Coach (Sheltered Water) Training
2020-08-22 - 2020-08-23 | Carmarthenshire
***Cancelled due to Covid-19***
This 2-day Discipline Specific Training course you will focus on how to coach technical and tactical skills in both Canoe and Kayak on Sheltered Water. The course will help you plan and deliver safe, enjoyable, progressive coaching sessions and you’ll explore specifics to help you coach some typical learners relevant to these craft in this environment.
You need to meet the following prerequisites before attending the course:

Full ‘on the water’ membership of Canoe Wales / British Canoeing (etc.);
Completed Core Coach Training (or the following ‘old’ British Canoeing courses, if you feel confident with their content: Level 2 (UKCC) Training OR Assessment; Moderate or Advanced Water Training OR Assessment; Level 3 (UKCC) Core Training OR Assessment;
A good level of knowledge of both canoeing and kayaking on sheltered water; and well-practised personal skills.

Minimum 2, maximum 4 candidates.
Venue to be confirmed (somewhere in the Brecon area).
The course fee will be no more than £180, which includes coaching, equipment and certification. If more than 2 candidates attend, I will aim to reduce this fee if I can.

19 Aug 2020 Gorge Users' Workshop
2020-08-19 19:00 - 21:00 | Carmarthenshire
Now that Providers have re-commenced using the gorges in Waterfall Country, SWOAPG wishes to take the opportunity to review and share experiences and ‘good practice’ around the precautions that Providers are taking to prevent the transmission of Covid-19 in gorge-walking and canyoning activities.
This 2-hour, interactive Zoom workshop will enable Providers to share:

the latest updates on gorge access;
our understanding of the key requirements for preventing transmission – including Welsh Government regulations; the “We’re Good to Go” scheme; and WATO guidelines for Safe Delivery of Gorge Walking and Canyoning post COVID -19;
specific concerns about what these mean in the gorge environment; and
suggestions for ‘good practice’ in managing clients and equipment; using the car parks, toilets and changing areas; and maintaining social distancing in the gorges.

We will probably focus first on the Sychryd gorge, since this is used more frequently by most Providers, but will also consider the Upper Mellte if we have time.
Please RSVP (using the button on the website event listing; or by e-mail) to register your interest (Members who have registered their interest will receive the Zoom link in due course – please contact us if you have not received this before the event).

CANCELLED 6 Aug 2020 Pontneddfechan community liaison ‘surgery’
2020-08-06 16:00 - 18:00 | Pontneddfechan Village Hall, Pontneddfechan, Neath, SA11 5ND, United Kingdom
***Cancelled due to Covid-19***
SWOAPG Directors will be holding drop-in ‘surgery’ sessions for the Pontneddfechan local community on the 1st Thursday of every month from April to October 2020. These are intended as an opportunity for local residents to bring forward their observations about activity providers working in the area and to help us build constructive relationships with the local community in ‘Waterfall Country’.

6-7 Aug 2020 British Canoeing Paddlesport Instructor Award course
2020-08-06 - 2020-08-07 | Carmarthenshire

1-2 Aug 2020 British Canoeing Sheltered Water Coach Training
2020-08-01 - 2020-08-02 | Carmarthenshire

26-27 Jul 2020 British Canoeing Core Coach Training (by Adventure Beyond)
2020-07-26 00:00 - 2020-07-27 23:59 | Carmarthenshire

23 July 2020 River Usk: from Source to Sea (Part 1: the National Park)
2020-07-23 10:00 - 23:30 | Carmarthenshire
This is the fourth in a series of webinars taking the place of our usual workshop programme – watch this space for more events coming soon.
Join Alan Bowring of Brecon Beacons National Park Authority as he takes us on a virtual tour down the Usk from its source high on the Black Mountain through the National Park as far as Abergavenny, stopping on route to explore places of geological and historical interest. This e-tour will increase your own knowledge of the river and its valley ready for taking your own clients down parts of the river when all this is over!
NB you may find it useful to have to hand a copy of OS Explorer Maps OL12 & OL13 during the presentation.
Participants will be provided with a pdf of the presentation after the event.
If there is enough interest, Alan is prepared to offer Part 2: from Abergavenny to the Sea, at a later date!
Please RSVP (using the button on the website event listing; or by e-mail) to register your interest (NB this event is for SWOAPG Members only, so your credentials will be checked on booking. Members who have registered their interest will receive the Zoom link in due course – please contact us if you have not received this before the event).

CANCELLED 21-22 Jul 2020 British Canoeing Open Water Canoe Coach Training
2020-07-21 - 2020-07-22 | Carmarthenshire
***Cancelled due to Covid-19 pandemic***
This 2-day Discipline Specific Training course you will focus on how to coach technical and tactical skills in Open Canoes on Moderate Open Water. The course will help you plan and deliver safe, enjoyable, progressive coaching sessions and you’ll explore specifics to help you coach some typical learners relevant to these craft in this environment.
You need to meet the following prerequisites before attending the course:

Full ‘on the water’ membership of Canoe Wales / British Canoeing (etc.);
Hold Canoe Leader (or former 4* Canoe leadership Award); and
Completed Core Coach Training (or the following ‘old’ British Canoeing courses, if you feel confident with their content: Level 2 (UKCC) Training OR Assessment; Moderate or Advanced Water Training OR Assessment; Level 3 (UKCC) Core Training OR Assessment.

Minimum 2, maximum 4 candidates.
Venue to be confirmed (somewhere in the Brecon area).
The course fee will be no more than £180, which includes coaching, equipment and certification. If more than 2 candidates attend, I will aim to reduce this fee if I can.

11-12 Jul 2020 16hr Outdoor First Aid course
2020-07-11 - 2020-07-12 | Carmarthenshire

9 Jul 2020 Gunpowder and Gorges webinar
2020-07-09 10:00 - 12:00 | Carmarthenshire
This is the third in a series of webinars taking the place of our usual workshop programme – watch this space for more events coming soon.
Join the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority to step back in time to when the works at Pontneddfechan were at their height of their production of gunpowder for the mining industry. Crammed into the steep gorge of the Afon Mellte, the remains of these works can still be found. The gorge was ideal for making this highly explosive product having a plentiful water supply for power and being isolated enough to safeguard the local community if anything did go wrong.
This will be a virtual guided walk to some of those buildings that have recently been conserved. They are now considered of such historical significance that they have been classed as Scheduled Ancient Monuments. Find out about the geology that created these gorges and their unique environment and enjoy a re-telling of a local legend of faeries, hidden lands and the temptation of gold.
Please RSVP (using the button on the website event listing; or by e-mail) to register your interest (NB this event is for SWOAPG Members only, so your credentials will be checked on booking. Members who have registered their interest will receive the Zoom link in due course – please contact us if you have not received this before the event).

5 Jul 2020 Level 2 First Aid for Mental Health
2020-07-05 | Carmarthenshire

CANCELLED 2 Jul 2020 Pontneddfechan community liaison ‘surgery’
2020-07-02 16:00 - 18:00 | Pontneddfechan Village Hall, Pontneddfechan, Neath, SA11 5ND, United Kingdom

2-3 Jul 2020 Practical First Aid for Outdoor Instructors
2020-07-02 - 2020-07-03 | Carmarthenshire
These 2 Day Courses are aimed at anyone working in the Outdoors and in particular, Outdoor Instructors. The courses are intended to provide the skills to deal with most First Aid situations in outdoor environments and the course is aligned with guidelines provided by HSE, BRC, MREW & BCRC.
Venue – Crickhowell
Price – £170 per person
More Information – https://www.garyevansoutdoors.co.uk/first-aid

20-21 Jun 2020 British Canoeing Slalom Coach Training
2020-06-20 - 2020-06-21 | Carmarthenshire

20-21 Jun 2020 British Canoeing White Water Kayak Coach Training
2020-06-20 - 2020-06-21 | Carmarthenshire
