A Scheme Approved by Mountain Leader Training England

( March 1997 )

Introduction

The Moorland and Mountain areas of the South West provide some of the best walking environments in the country and are therefore popular with leaders wanting to introduce young people to wild country walking and camping.

Many leaders from the SW region will only ever want to lead groups in these Moorland areas and as a consequence have no need for National walking leader qualifications. These must of necessity consider the additional hazards associated with mountainous terrain and require high levels of personal experience to achieve certification.

In response to an identified need, to improve the quality of leadership and to make certification to lead more accessible the SW authorities have, for in excess of 20 years, administered the South West Mountain and Moorland Leader Training Scheme.

The scheme and associated syllabus is used extensively within the South West by local authorities, voluntary organisations, the Duke of Edinburgh’s award, schools, colleges and establishments of further and higher education, as a means of ensuring that staff and volunteers leading groups are competent. Following training and assessment staff will have the range of skills needed to manage groups, whether on day walks in summer or winter conditions or for multi- night expeditions.

The different levels within the scheme provide a gradual development route for leaders and this progression helps to ensure that young people walking and camping in the SW region are led by appropriately competent leaders at all stages.

* Further detail on the levels can be found within the syllabus *

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Current Committee Members in 2008

The following is a list of committee members who have a current active involvement in administering the award.

Individuals wishing to enquire further about the scheme or register must contact a listed LA nominated representative. This would most usually be the representative in their home area.

Rob Brindley                            Dorset                      Chair

Martin Northcott                      Plymouth

Phillip Berry                             Devon

Roger Lowden                          Cornwall

Dave Tranter                           Bristol

Ian Duckett / Louise Mills         Wiltshire

Anthony Reed                          Somerset

Andy Holborn                           Independent            Secretary

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Who can access the Scheme?

Correct implementation of the scheme is the responsibility of each committee representative within their own LA.

The scheme is LA administered and moderated and its principal use is for LA employees wishing to lead young people.

Other organisations can make use of the scheme as a means of certification for there own staff through LA approved course directors, but the LAs can accept no liability for its application or use outside their statutory areas of responsibility.

Recognition of the awards as a measure of competence is a decision for individual employers.

All awards administered by the committee only assess technical competence; it is for the employer to assess the suitability and personal skills of an award holder to work with particular groups.