BCU Approved Paddlesport Provider Scheme
Introduction
The British Canoe Union is umbrella organisation for the four Home Nation Governing Bodies of Paddlesport in the UK (Canoe England, the Scottish Canoe Association, Canoe Association of Northern Ireland and Canoe Wales). As such the BCU has responsibility to ensure those participating in the sport know exactly what qualifications; safety procedures and standards of competence are expected from the BCU and from those Providers providing paddlesport activity. To this end the BCU has an accreditation scheme for Providers who are offering paddlesport activity.
The BCU Approved Paddlesport Providers Scheme is a UK wide scheme delivered and administered by the Home Nation Association. This document outlines the delivery of the scheme in Scotland.
Who should apply?
The Paddlesport providers approval process is open to both public sector and private sector activity providers / centres. Providers are generally perceived to work in five main ways including:
- Activity Holiday Companies - typically providing one off introductory sessions on very sheltered water
- Local Education Authority Centres - where the emphasis (but not entire end purpose) being the canoe / kayak as a vehicle for achieving educational personal development.
- Outdoors Activity Centres - where the emphasis (but not entire end purpose) being on the introduction of candidates to the skills, techniques and understanding of the sport and its practice, to lead them into competent participation.
- Specialist Paddlesport Providers - Specialist Paddlesport activity and coaching course providers
- Paddlesport Hire Companies - Commercial event companies, leisure companies and sports clubs who offer paddlesport activities on a supervised or unsupervised basis or on a hire of equipment only basis
The reality is that there is invariably overlap, and the implication of this is acknowledged throughout these guidelines
Benefits of the BCU Approved Paddlesport Provider Scheme in Scotland
- Kite Mark of Quality provision for paddlesport
- Use of BCU and SCA logos - the BCU and SCA logos can be used in promotional material with the words ' BCU Approved Paddlesport Provider'.
- A dated certificate of scheme membership to display
- Annual (or biannual) Inspection by an experienced Approval Officer
- Access to technical advice from the approval officer
- Free BCU and SCA magazines – currently:
- Scottish Paddler, published quarterly
- Canoe Focus, published every two months
- CoDe the coaching magazine , bimonthly
- A listing on the SCA website www.canoescotland.org (20,000 searches on the Approved Paddlesport Provider page per year)
- Information about Approved Paddlesport Providers included in SCA publications – currently:
- SCA yearbook (3,500 quantity print run)
- Scottish Paddler, published quarterly and distributed to 4,500 individuals and organisations
- Free employment adverts in the BCU coaching newsletter, CoDe, sent directly to over 10,000 Registered Coaches.
- Option to host SCA organised courses and events (Approved Paddlesport Providers will be given first option to host or deliver SCA events such as conferences, meetings, training and assessment courses)
- Approved Paddlesport Provider Representative to provide ongoing communication between SCA Coaching Committee and Approved Paddlesport Providers.
- Dates of BCU courses listed in SCA / BCU publications where applicable, currently Scottish Paddler and CoDe. (N.B. in future course dates will only be listed for Approved Paddlesport Providers)
- Flyers inserted free into delegate packs for SCA events (e.g. SCA Coaching Conference and Club Coach Weekend)
- Advice on Child Protection and the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme from the SCA Child Protection Officer
Additional Options (additional fees/costs apply)
- AdventureMark Accreditation
- Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge
- Branded merchandise at cost price (under development)
- Coach Update delivered alongside approval visit (under development)
Length of Approval
BCU Approval is normally certificated for a period of 12 months. Following 3 consecutive successful approvals and at the discretion of the home nation governing body, a 24 month approval may be granted. Additional approval fees are required for 24 month approvals. The relevant home nation governing body will forward applications to renewing Providers.
Cost
The cost of annual approval is £300. Eligible providers may opt for a 2 year approval at £400. If you wish your approval visit to include Learning Outside the Classroom, an additional fee of £50 applies. VAT is not applicable. Additional registration fees of £150+Vat per year apply if you wish AdventureMark or Learning Outside the Classroom approval.
How to Apply
New entrants to the scheme can apply at any time. To request an application form, please email SCA Coaching or call 0131 317 7314.
For current Approved Paddlesport Providers (previously known as Approved Centres) application forms for approval will be sent out by the SCA prior to the current certification expiring.
The Senior Person in Charge of canoeing or the Centre Manager must endorse applications.
Further Information
Additional Approval Options
In addition to the standard BCU Approval, the SCA can offer ‘additional approval options’ to centres taking up Approval. If these options are of value to you they will represent a huge saving against other direct options to access them!
1. Adventuremark
Adventuremark is a non-statutory safety scheme devised by the Adventure Activity Industry Advisory Committee (AAIAC) for providers of adventurous activities that are outside the scope of the Adventure Activity Licensing regulations.
Adventuremark allows providers to demonstrate to their customers or users that the provider's arrangements for managing the potential risks of adventure activities have been inspected and found to meet the necessary standards of good practice in the adventure activity industry.
AAIAC, have appointed Adventure Activity Associates Ltd as the Supervising Body responsible for operating Adventuremark and Inspection against the Provider Accreditation Criteria can be provided by Adventure Activity Associates (the 'Direct Route') or by an AAIAC Approved Scheme.
Adventuremark applies to all adventure activities and to all age groups in England, Scotland and Wales. For more information visit http://www.adventuremark.co.uk/
The BCU is now an AAIAC Approved Scheme Provider and can offer you an inspection against the provider criteria as an additional aspect of your BCU Approval saving you time, the need for a further inspection visit and money!!
Should you wish to apply for Adventuremark through the BCU you will need to indicate this on your application form and should note that the Application requires details of all other activities you offer and with the approval visit we include additional aspects of inspection and will include an observation of an additional activity delivery.
2. The Learning Outside the Classroom Badge (Adventurous Activities)
The Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Quality badge provides for the first time a national accreditation combining the essential elements of provision, learning and safety, into one easily recognisable and trusted Quality Badge. LOtC badges will enable schools to use the services of a 'badge provider' with confidence and, crucially, without any other checks. If you are a provider of Adventurous Activities and you would like to find out more about how the badge works visit http://www.adventurelotc.com/ The Adventure Activity Industry Advisory Committee (AAIAC) has been appointed as the awarding body for the Adventurous Activities badging sector.
The BCU is now an AAIAC Approved LOtC Provider and can offer you an inspection against the provider criteria as an additional aspect of your BCU Approval saving you time, the need for a further inspection visit and money!!
Should you wish to apply for LOtC through the BCU you will need to indicate this on your application form. You should note that the application requires details of all other activities you offer and that the approval visit will include additional aspects of inspection as well as an observation of an additional activity delivery.
Costs - Adventuremark and LOTC via the SCA - For details of additional fees please contact - coaching@canoescotland.org
What to do?
If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity you will be able to make the additional application for any or all of the options above as part of your annual application process. Alternatively if you would like to talk through these options further please feel free to contact us coaching@canoescotland.org