Herefordshire Council is growing its own canoe instructors as more young people across the county pick up their paddles and take to the water.
Ten young people have just completed a UK Coaching Certificate level one course run by Herefordshire Council’s outdoor education service, which will allow them to coach other youngsters when the canoeing season begins again next year.
The council’s outdoor education team based at the Canoe Centre at Hereford’s Castle Green, provides lots of opportunities for young people to learn to kayak and canoe. The team works hand in hand with schools during term time to offer an alternative form of physical education, as well as providing coaching courses during the school holidays. So the demand for qualified coaches is always high and has been difficult to meet in the past.
The young people who have just successfully completed the course learned to canoe at Hereford’s Canoe Centre a couple of years ago through a weekly Thursday evening canoe club run by the council for young people. Having tasted the water and liked it, they worked hard to develop their practical skills to the required level, then completed a four day intensive instructor course.
David McEneaney, Herefordshire Council’s youth service, said: “The young people have done really well to achieve this qualification. It means they can teach other young people some of the basics and share their canoeing skills with them, which is great for their personal career development.
“Growing our own instructors will help us extend our programme of outdoor activities for young people next year. Now that we’ve seen this scheme succeed, we’d like to encourage other young people to come and learn to canoe and, if they want to take it further, train to be instructors too.”
Anyone aged 11 to 19 who wants to learn to canoe can contact the council’s outdoor education team on 01432 383503.