Upcoming training
Any upcoming training courses will be advertised on the Calendar page and via the regular Notes from Canalside which is emailed to members.
Training options
RCC members have requested to know more about the training routes available for them to further their personal paddling, safety and rescue, river leading and coaching skills.
Regents Canoe Club has put together a 4-page 'briefing' on some of the options available to you. Members should also be reminded that they can apply for a 40% subsidy for the cost of courses that they wish to go on.
Click to open Training Briefing
Training subsidies
Members who wish to organise professional kayak or first aid training and/or assessment for themselves or a group of members can apply to the committee for a discretionary subsidy. Subsidies will only be given if the training will be of benefit to the club, rather than the individual.
Your application must be received by the Safety and Training Officer within a period of two months of the course date or before the next Committee Meeting (whichever is the longer). You can apply for a subsidy before your training, but no subsidy will be paid until after the course.
Click on the 'Subsidy application form' link below, complete the form and either pass to a Committee member, email a copy to safety@regentscanoeclub.co.uk or post to:
Training officer
Regents Canoe Club
16-34 Graham Street
London N1 8JX
Training subsidies available to BCU members
Training grants are currently available for British Canoe Union (BCU) members living or paddling with a club in London
London RDT has a pot of money available for paddlers living or paddling with a club / centre in London. There is an application form online at www.canoelondon.btck.co.uk or email londonregion@fairloppaddlesport.co.uk requesting a form and one will be sent out to you. Each grant is £50 and will be paid on completion of your course and on production of you certificate / proof of attendance to the RDT team.
Examples of suitable training and development courses
- BCU UKCC coaching courses
- First aid courses (recognised as appropriate by the BCU)
- Foundation Safety and Rescue training (FSRT)
- BCU Four Star and Five Star courses
- White Water Safety and Rescue Training
- Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning
- Open Water Navigation and Tidal Planning
- BCU Foundation and Intermediate Modules
If you want any more information please look at the address above or email londonregion@fairloppaddlesport.co.uk
Expenses for coaches
Between September 2011 and April 2012 the club will be trying out ‘coaching specific’ trips, where the main focus of the trip is on the student and their learning experience.
The club recognises that those who coach regularly do so because they enjoy it and gain useful experience. Regent’s is an amateur sports club, run by its members for its members, on a voluntary basis. These are important core principles that should be maintained to protect the club ethos. However the club has agreed, after much discussion, that paying legitimate coach expenses for specific trips will not detract from these important club principles.
The Committee considers coaches as being those active club members who are willing and able to coach and to help coach to an acceptable standard. They do not need to have coaching qualifications.
The club has agreed that, for a trial period, legitimate expenses incurred by the coaches can be reimbursed along with any other reasonable expenses incurred to deliver the coaching. These are considered to be the cost of fuel / travel from their normal place of residence, parking expenses, the cost of accommodation and any water fees and other ad hoc expenses incurred in order to carry out coaching.
The Committee will decide in advance, and on a case by case basis, if a trip is eligible for the coaches’ expenses to be paid. This will be reviewed at the AGM in April 2012.
Please see the guidelines below for full details.
Normal club trips such as the Dart and Alps where members lead on a river and may offer advice on personal paddling skills and river reading will not be deemed as coached courses.
Regents Canoe Club criteria for club coached trips which are eligible for coach expenses.
Below are the criteria for a Regents Canoe Club organised ‘coached’ trip.
A coached trip will differ from an ordinary club trip. To qualify as a coached trip the trip organiser must make an application to the committee and meet all the criteria outlined below. Once approval has been gained, a trip can be advertised as a ‘coached trip’ to the membership.
1. It must be relevant training that will benefit or further the aims and role of the club.
2. A lesson plan must be provided and approved by the Safety and Training Officer and / or the Committee before the trip/training exercise is advertised to the membership. Students must be given the opportunity to receive feedback from the coaches and give feedback through an anonymous post course feedback form.
3. It must be open and advertised in Notes from Canalside to all club members.
4. The selection of students must be based on the course being suitable and applicable to those members and on a first come, first served basis.
5. Coaches eligible to reclaim costs need not be qualified but must be deemed suitable for the role by the Safety and Training Officer and / or the Committee. Expenses are to be paid only to active members of the club.
6. Those coaches claiming expenses must have been engaged in the coaching for the majority of time spent on the water during the period.
7. The expenses can include accommodation, the coaches’ proportion of the fuel cost or other transport from their usual place of residence and any water fees. Other costs may be considered at the discretion of the Committee.
8. Costs not included are food, drink and any other costs not directly related to running a course or training. Exceptions will be allowed where the accommodation cost includes breakfast and or river snacks.
9. Costs will not normally be reimbursed for travel to training or courses run at the club site or the club’s usual indoor swimming pool (currently at Britannia Sports Centre) unless agreed as needed to in order for the course to run.
10. Expenses may be paid for a maximum ratio of 2 coaches to 4 students, unless for safety reasons the Safety and Training Officer and / or the Committee agree that the ratio can be greater.
