Opportunities to join SCA Committees and Board 2020

Discipline Committees typically comprise up to 9 volunteers, each appointed for a 3 year term.  This summer we are inviting volunteers to apply for the following positions on the following committees:

Feel free to contact any of the discipline committees to find out more about what it involves.  Further details on the remit of each of the committees and the application process can be found at canoescotland.org/about.  To apply for a post on a committee, please fill in the online application form by the relevant closing date.

Opportunities to join other committees

Positions are also available on the 

• Access Committee
• Environment Committee 
• Recreation Committee
• Coaching and Development Committee



Access Committee

This new committee has a focus on maintaining and improving our access on water and to the water.  The committee also assesses planning applications put forward by 3rd parties - particularly to do with hydro schemes and other renewables projects and makes submissions accordingly



Access Committee Terms of Reference



Environment Committee

A brand new committee focussing exclusively on the important environmental issues facing us as paddlers and the places we paddle.  We aim to work in partnership with other organisations to maximise our impact in this area and to provide clear information that persuades everyone to make the environment their top priority.



Environment Committee Terms of Reference



Recreation Committee

Responsible for overseeing key events including the Wet West Paddlefest and also the monthly SCA freestyle sessions at Pinkston.



Coaching and Development Committee

We are also inviting applications from volunteers to join the Coaching and Development Committee as Regional Officers for the following: 

• South West 
• Grampian and Shetland 
• Central
• Highlands 



Each Regional Officer acts as a regional contact for SCA members, affiliated clubs, providers and centres linking them to SCA volunteers, committees and staff as appropriate and be a regional ambassador for the SCA and British Canoeing.



Deadline for applications for all these committees is 29th September.  To apply for a post on a committee, please fill in the online application form by the relevant closing date.



SCA Director Elections and Appointments 2020

Each year there are usually three Director posts that are elected/appointed at the November AGM. These appointments are for a 3 year term and Directors can serve a maximum of two terms in the same role.

In 2020 these Director posts are scheduled to be:

• Chair
• Competition Director
• General Director

Acting on feedback and suggestions from current and recent incumbents of the Competition Director and Recreation Director roles, a consultation has been undertaken, reviewing the purpose and scope for both roles. As part of this review, a session was held at the joint Committee/Board residential weekend at the end of February, to which all SCA committee members had been invited, and further discussions with individual committee members.

The review concluded that there was not a need to continue with specific Recreation and Competition roles on the Board. This was largely due to the SCA staff already supporting committees in areas including publicising and organising events, developing progression pathways (and coaches to support these) and working with other staff and directors on planning and finance matters. Committee chairs have expressed the view that discontinuing these specific Board roles would pave the way for an SCA Board consisting of people from an even more diverse range of backgrounds, while still possessing a wealth of interest, experience and expertise across our paddling disciplines - both recreational and competitive.

The appointment of directors is carried out with reference to a skills matrix which is maintained to ensure that the board collectively have the required knowledge and experience to oversee the activities of the SCA. A knowledge of our sport will continue to be a requirement and indeed the current board already has multiple directors with experience in a range of competitive and recreational canoeing disciplines as well as a wider understanding and appreciation of the progression pathways within our sport.

The intention at this year’s AGM is to table a proposal to create two more General Director roles instead of the existing Recreation and Competition Director ones. If this proposal is accepted by the AGM then the Competition Director appointed this year and the current Recreation Director would both become General Directors for the remainder of their current terms of office. General Directors can be recruited against a much more open set of criteria, thus allowing capable and enthusiastic volunteers to serve on the Board who otherwise might have been excluded.

On the SCA website, descriptions for each role due to be elected/appointed in 2020 set out the experience, personal characteristics and time commitment required. There is an online application form and a link to the online form to register ‘interest’ so that these can be logged and managed according to the SCA Conflicts of Interest Policy. All Director roles require a degree of experience and expertise serving on boards and committees, and candidates will be expected to demonstrate a good knowledge of governance, compliance, finance and of developing and implementing vision and strategy.

Directors serve three year terms and applications are sought from individual members willing to serve in the above roles until the 2023 AGM. 

Applications are especially welcome from individuals within groups currently under-represented on the SCA Board, including women, disabled people, those from black and minority ethnic communities and people aged under 50. Participation in SCA Director meetings can be via online conferencing.

To apply please fill in this online application form before the deadline, Monday 20 July.