Inside Out

Most courses evolve. They start as either a client brief, or from an idea by our staff and then move through various conversations and revisions, being changed even as they are being delivered. Looking through my file from a leadership course back in March, I found this piece of paper. It was the outcome of 30 minutes discussion between two of us and it became a very successful “Looking at Leadership” course that finished with the participants rowing the length of Windermere.

The fact that you can read it means the handwriting isn’t mine but I love the fact that, for one course at least, it is possible to pinpoint when all the ideas came together. [Click for a larger version]

Kath from Active First Aid writes:

Hi Guys

I am undertaking a little research project to try and find out what people carry in their first aid kits, for use with all land based outdoor activities.

I am currently in the process of emailing everyone I know who either works or plays in the outdoors with the attached questionnaire. If you could spare me a few minutes to go through the attachment and simply tick the boxes, I would be really grateful.

If you know of anyone else who might be willing to spare a few minutes on the questionnaire, please feel free to pass it onto them.

Many thanks

Katherine Wills

If you’d like to take part and have your say about the contents of first aid kits, the questionnaire is below and you can send it to Kath (katherinewills@btinternet.com) when done.

First Aid Kit Questionnaire

From Fiona at the Institute for Outdoor Learning

The government today announced the suspension of the introduction of the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) pending the outcome of a comprehensive review which is likely to result in re-modelling and significant scaling back of the scope of the scheme. The scope of the re-modelling process is currently being finalised and will be announced in due course.

Although registration with the VBS (due to begin from July 2010) will not now go ahead, the ISA will continue to make barring decisions on individuals and to maintain the two barring lists.

For more information on the ISA, visit: www.isa-gov.org.uk.

To view the Home Office press release visit: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/media-centre/press-releases/Vetting-barring-scheme

The new safeguarding regulations introduced in October 2009 continue to apply.  This is the current advice on the Independent Safeguarding Authority website:

• A person who is barred from working with children or vulnerable adults will be breaking the law if they work or volunteer, or try to work or volunteer with those groups.
• An organisation which knowingly employs someone who is barred to work with those groups will also be breaking the law.
• If your organisation works with children or vulnerable adults and you dismiss a member of staff or a volunteer because they have harmed a child or vulnerable adult, or you would have done so if they had not left, you must tell the Independent Safeguarding Authority.
  

In the meantime organisations are therefore recommended to continue to implement their existing safe recruitment processes, which should include CRB checks for relevant individuals and posts.

Courtesy of Indexed

We’ve been in North Wales all day, whittling sticks, chopping wood and building shelters as part of a stone soup bush craft session based at Boulder Adventures. Everybody has brought along ideas and we’ve shared them, improving practice and making all of us safer. Claire (above) seemed rather attached to her shelter and didn’t want to come out.

More Photos

Bill Krouwel of Trinity College, Carmarthen has started a social network  for those of us working in Development Training who have an interest in Emergent Learning. In his words;

“For those who are uncomfortable with the fashionable idea that learning events don’t count unless they have tight, pre-set objectives.”

If you have an interest  in such things, please do come and join us or ask me for an invite.

If any of you regularly listen to podcasts I can’t recommend The Dirtbag Diaries enough. Fitz Cahall introduces and narrates these short journeys into outdoor life.

From tales of accidents and examples of extreme courage to silly stories and beginners luck, Fitz does a great job of getting to the soul of the outdoor person. He comes closer than most to explaining why we go into the hills or onto the river and push ourselves beyond our comfort zone. Read More »

In an industry where people move from organisation to organisation frequently and many staff are seasonal, it can sometimes feel like life in the outdoors is one continual job hunt. As bad as it is to keep applying it can be just as bad to be a centre manager who is on the receiving end of 300 CVs a year and has to sift through them to work out who is the right person for the job.

Below is some advice for people who are either writing their CV for the first time, or are updating it before applying for full time jobs or freelance positions.. The overall aim should be to keep it short and neat and to provide only information an employer is interested in. By following the advice below, being honest and with a bit of luck, you will maximise your chance of at least getting to an interview. From there you’re on your own! Read More »