NEW for 2021, the Leadership and Raft Guide Awards aim to create more opportunities for people to paddle by increasing the number of qualified leaders and raft guides.

The new awards suite aligns to the British Canoeing Awarding Body Educational Philosophy and supports leaders and raft guides to run safe, quality, enjoyable trips, based on their group’s needs and aspirations.

The awards are ideal for clubs, centres and activity providers looking to lead groups on single or mixed craft journeys, from sheltered water to advanced water.

Key features of the new awards suite include –

• Direct access to the environment you want to lead
• No formal Paddle UK Leadership training requirements
• Direct entry to assessments available
• Single day assessments, allowing more agility, reducing time and expenditure
• NEW eLearning package to support those leading in an unfamiliar environment
• Downloadable logbook to support the recording of activity
• Digital self-analysis tool to support leaders in their development and preparation for assessment

Key changes to the disciplines –

• NEW disciplines: Paddlesport Touring Leader, SUP Inland Open Water Leader, SUP Coastal Leader and Stadium White Water Leader
• Canoe Leadership to be split into Open Water and White Water
• Sea Leadership to have tidal and non-tidal assessment pathways

“Paddle UK is delighted and very proud to launch the NEW Leadership qualification suite, being part of the wider 4 year review of all Coaching and Leadership awards.  This project has included 3 years of feedback from candidates, Providers, National Associations, Technical Groups and wider consultation…  Although much of the content has remained the same, the ethos and accessibility has changed significantly, providing direct access opportunities, single day assessments and no mandatory training, which could reduce both time and expense as well as recognising and celebrating individual experience. Such shift and alignment with our Educational Philosophy supports an individualised journey.“

Lee Pooley, Head of Coaching and Qualifications at Paddle UK

General Documents

  Leadership and Raft Guide Award Course Guide (841.6 KiB, 7,136 hits)

  Participant Focused Leadership Guidance (523.9 KiB, 4,781 hits)

  Leadership and Raft Guide Award Sample Programme (927.0 KiB, 6,841 hits)

  Leadership and Raft Guide Award Tutor Notes (774.1 KiB, 4,453 hits)

Paddlesport Leader Documents

  Paddlesport Leader Assessment Guidance (684.5 KiB, 12,389 hits)

  Paddlesport Leader Checklist (260.7 KiB, 9,690 hits)

Paddlesport Touring Leader Documents

  Paddlesport Touring Leader Assessment Guidance (629.2 KiB, 8,438 hits)

  Paddlesport Touring Leader Checklist (263.5 KiB, 4,899 hits)

Stadium White Water Leader Documents

  Stadium White Water Leader Assessment Guidance (653.6 KiB, 2,026 hits)

  Stadium White Water Leader Checklist (259.8 KiB, 1,601 hits)

SUP Coastal Leader Documents

  SUP Coastal Leader Assessment Guidance (550.0 KiB, 3,656 hits)

  SUP Coastal Leader Checklist (261.3 KiB, 2,288 hits)

SUP Inland Open Water Leader Documents

  SUP Inland Open Water Leader Assessment Guidance (508.1 KiB, 3,975 hits)

  SUP Inland Open Water Leader Checklist (261.8 KiB, 2,307 hits)

Canoe Open Water Leader Documents

  Canoe Open Water Leader Assessment Guidance (691.6 KiB, 4,683 hits)

  Canoe Open Water Leader Checklist (261.3 KiB, 3,005 hits)

Advanced Canoe Open Water Leader Documents

  Advanced Canoe Open Water Leader Assessment Guidance (491.0 KiB, 3,035 hits)

  Advanced Canoe Open Water Leader Checklist (261.7 KiB, 1,729 hits)

Canoe White Water Leader Documents

  Canoe White Water Leader Assessment Guidance (1.2 MiB, 3,324 hits)

  Canoe White Water Leader Checklist (260.7 KiB, 2,261 hits)

Advanced Canoe White Water Leader Documents

  Advanced Canoe White Water Leader Assessment Guidance (1,009.0 KiB, 2,089 hits)

  Advanced Canoe White Water Leader Checklist (261.3 KiB, 1,378 hits)

Sea Kayak Leader Documents

  Sea Kayak Leader Assessment Guidance (546.0 KiB, 9,790 hits)

  Sea Kayak Leader Checklist (260.2 KiB, 4,945 hits)

Advanced Sea Kayak Leader Documents

  Advanced Sea Kayak Leader Assessment Guidance (601.9 KiB, 3,362 hits)

  Advanced Sea Kayak Leader Checklist (261.5 KiB, 2,380 hits)

Surf Kayak Leader Documents

  Surf Kayak Leader Assessment Guidance (459.6 KiB, 2,165 hits)

  Surf Kayak Leader Checklist (262.5 KiB, 1,367 hits)

Advanced Surf Kayak Leader Documents

  Advanced Surf Kayak Leader Assessment Guidance (466.5 KiB, 1,480 hits)

  Advanced Surf Kayak Leader Checklist (263.5 KiB, 1,238 hits)

White Water Leader Documents

  White Water Leader Assessment Guidance (697.5 KiB, 4,493 hits)

  White Water Leader Checklist (258.9 KiB, 3,283 hits)

Advanced White Water Leader Documents

  Advanced White Water Leader Assessment Guidance (775.2 KiB, 2,525 hits)

  Advanced White Water Leader Checklist (259.8 KiB, 1,748 hits)

Stadium Raft Guide Documents

  Stadium Raft Guide Assessment Guidance (447.8 KiB, 1,395 hits)

  Stadium Raft Guide Checklist (261.0 KiB, 1,065 hits)

Raft Guide Documents

  Raft Guide Assessment Guidance (741.2 KiB, 1,984 hits)

  Raft Guide Checklist (262.6 KiB, 1,389 hits)

Raft Trip Leader Documents

  Raft Trip Leader Assessment Guidance (636.4 KiB, 1,643 hits)

  Raft Trip Leader Checklist (263.3 KiB, 1,054 hits)