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Here we have information for and pertaining to our England Northwest Region.
If you have any info that could be included here please email details to fiona@outdoor-learning.org
SARDA Evening at Cotswold Outdoor - Keswick - May 14th
Members are invted to a SARDA fundraising evening at Cotswold Keswick, on May 14th from 6.30 pm, in aid of the Lake District Search and Rescue Association. Wine and nibbles will be available in store.
Training Officer Mick Guy will be giving a presentation on how these hard-working, lovable dogs are trained to help save lives on the fells. Mick will also bring the dogs along to meet at this free event!
There will be a representative from Rough Wear to talk about their products and Cotswold are offering 20% off purchases made during the evening (use the IOL member code).
Pass the info on to other IOL Members and call/email Claire at Cotswold to confirm your invite (01768 781030).
2008 Northern Region Conference and AGM
The Region's Premier Outdoor Conference took place on 1st February 2008 at Hilltop, University of Cumbria, Ambleside.
Despite the awful winter weather the attendance at the 2008 Northern Region conference was well over 100 delegates.
This year's event was hosted by The University of Cumbria Hilltop Campus and the conference was opened by Richard Lemmey - Head of the Outdoor Education Dept.
Insurance company Jardine Lloyd Thompson sponsored the event and Cotswold (Keswick) provided some excellent prize draw goodies. 
Sponsored by JLT
Fantastic prize draw courtesy of Cotswold
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Some photos from the day - thanks to Ross Wallace for these
- The weather caused some problems with workshops, but mostly it went well - with delegates able to attend workshops ranging from Water Safety, BCU updates, Expedition Vehicle Maintenance, bushcraft to environmental art. The keynote speaker was Conrad Dickinson who entertained us with stories of his epic snowshoe adventure to the North Pole. Kaz Brush (IOL CEO) gave some feedback on the IOL Business Plan and facilitated a quick information gathering exercise designed to inform the 2008 plan.
- The Northern Region AGM was also held - Ross Wallace stood down as Chair and Paul Bond was elected - Paul is the Head of the Castlehead Field Studies Centre. We would like to offer our sincere thanks to Ross for all his hard work and welcome Paul to his role.
- We would like to take this opportunity to thank Cotswold for the excellent prizes and freebies, Jardine Loyd Thompson for the fantastic recycled cotton bags, the Northern Region Exec. Committee for organising the conference, the students at the University of Cumbria for help throughout day, the workshop presenters and, of course, Conrad Dickinson.
Access to Church Beck Coniston
Following the installation of the new hydro electric power scheme into Church Beck the land owner has confirmed that he is agreeable for those signed up to the original Church Beck User Agreement to be able to use the ghyll again. It is very important that users continue to respect the conditions of the agreement, as use of the gyhll will still be monitored by the land owner and his land agent.
It should be pointed out that users should conduct a new risk assessment for the ghyll before using it as there may be changes to the ghyll following the engineering work.
Northern Region News
Charges for canoes and kayaks in the Lake District National Park - BCU are strongly objecting both by the online consultation
The Lake District National Park is minded to introduce charges for canoes and kayaks.
We are strongly objecting both by the online consultation, more fully in writing and attending a LDNP public meeting on 18 January in Cumbria .
The link to the LDNPA survey is: http://www.lake-district.gov.uk/survey/
We would be pleased for outdoor education establishments and clubs to register views. Can you please help by forwarding this information on. The deadline to respond is 9 February.
There is no mention of third party insurance, but that could be another unwelcome element in this proposal.
Kevin East, National Access Officer of BCU K.East@btinternet.com
APIOL bursary
The APIOL bursary fund has been supporting several aspirant practitioners.
Access & conservation
Some good liaison and communication has been had with a number of bodies and organisations around the region in particularly United Utilities who own a substantial amount of land accessed by outdoor users. United Utilities are currently reviewing their policy on usage of their land and NRIOL were able to respond to their proposals ensuring they understood the values and concerns held by the outdoor sector.
Courses
Outdoor First Aid Courses
16hr Outdoor First Aid - Mere Mountains.
- Mon. 21st/Tues. 22nd April - Nr Windermere - 3 places left £95 -payment with booking (can take switch over the phone) £110 payment on invoice (30 days) 10% discount for APIOLs and individual NIROL members.
- Also Sat 26th/Sun.27th April
Course also has a few spaces, Costs as above, free lunch for APIOLs and NIROL members
Please call 015395 35030 (office open Mon- Fri 9.30am - 2.30pm) or email Elspeth@mere mountains.co.uk
Development training : First aid & NLP courses : Coaching
Valley Training and Sugar NLP Various dates and course content including:
- 2 Day Introductory Certificate in NLP
- 2 Day Certificate of NLP with Groups
- 11 Day Accelerated NLP Practitioner
- 7 Day Ericksonian Hypnotherapy
- 14 Day NLP Master Practitioner
- 11 Day Accelerated NLP Practitioner
www.valleytraining.co.uk and www.sugarnlp.co.uk
Events
Resource Efficiency (Environmental) Training Day
Dates: various
10.00 – 3.30
Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency. This days training is intended to be an introduction for those operating tourism accommodation and visitor attractions in Cumbria. It aims to give businesses:
- An overview of environmental issues facing the tourism sector
- Through discussion provide ideas on how to communicate your environmental credentials to your customers
- Help starting on the process of drafting a simple environmental policy.
Whilst this session will address recycling and waste issues, it will not focus specifically on these. Similarly, whilst renewable technologies will be discussed in general, for more specialist or technical advice on this issue, please contact the Resource Efficiency team at Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency on 01768 891555.
Noticeboard
Outdoor Workforce Development Project – GET QUALIFIED!
St Martin’s College are now providing funding for training in the Outdoor Sector in Cumbria. If you work (paid or unpaid) within the Outdoor Sector in Cumbria we can subsidise skills courses leading to particular National Governing Body awards and related qualifications. You can apply for 75% of the course fee to be paid for a variety of courses to be found in our training prospectus. Each individual can apply for up to £300 and the project runs throughout 2007. Courses include MLTE Mountain Leader, Walking Group Leader and Single Pitch Award, BCU Canoe/Kayak Coaching awards, RYA sailing awards, cycling qualifications as well first aid and first line management courses and more.
To be eligible to apply for a bursary you must meet the following criteria:
- You must be over 16 years of age.
- Your home address must be in Cumbria.
- You must be employed (paid or unpaid) in a business within the Outdoor Sector in Cumbria. Your employer/voluntary organisation must be in Cumbria.
- If you work for a public sector organisation you are ineligible for this funding; this is a European Social Fund stipulation. If however you are volunteering outside of your public sector role you are likely to be eligible. Please contact the Project for clarification.
- Full time students are ineligible for this funding; this again is a European Social Fund stipulation.
Applying is simple: get in touch with Rachel and she will send you out an information pack including the training prospectus, application form and guidance on eligibility and completing the forms. Once you have spoken to the training provider and ensured that the course is available and that it is the right one for you simply complete the application form and await confirmation. We will ask you to contribute towards the course and details about this are within the information you will be sent.
If you are able to put a poster up or leaflets out where you work this would be greatly appreciated as by keeping promotional costs low more money can go towards funding the courses.
For further information please contact Rachel Walker on 015394 30275
or rwalker@ucsm.ac.uk
If you have regional information please email it to fiona@outdoor-learning.org stating which region it is for. We are keen to make these sections busy and useful for all members. Information can be placed on a noticeboard, events, courses, as well as kit for sale or wanted.