Canoe Wales is the national governing body for paddle sport in Wales. We:

  • Manage the National White Water Centre which is located on the river Tryweryn in Bala, North Wales
  • Represent the interests of our club and individual members
  • Advocate on behalf of the interests of the sport in Wales
  • Provide coaching and development programmes from local to international level
  • Stage national and international competitions.

Becoming a Safety Course Provider

This page explains what is required of coaches wishing to provide each of the water safety training courses offered by the BCU.

Becoming a Foundation Safety and Rescue course provider
Becoming a White Water Safety and Rescue course provider
Becoming an Advanced White Water Safety and Rescue course provider
Becoming a Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning course provider
Becoming an Open Water Navigation and Tidal Planning course provider
Becoming an Advanced Surf Safety course provider

Becoming a Foundation Safety and Rescue (FSRT) course provider

Pre-reqs

In order to be an FSRT provider, you must be either:
  • An 'old scheme' BCU Level 3 coach with at least BCU 3 Star in the alternative canoe / kayak discipline (i.e. a Level 3 kayak coach [inland, sea or surf] should also hold the BCU 3 Star canoe; or a Level 3 canoe coach should also hold the BCU 3 Star in a kayak discipline)
  • A 'new scheme' BCU (UKCC) Level 2 coach who has held the award for at least 3 years and holds their BCU 3 star in both a canoe-based discipline and a kayak-based discipline. (Bank-based coaches will be required to have a boat-based assistant with at least BCU 3 star in both a canoe-based discipline and a kayak-based discipline)
You must also be current.

Training Process

  1. Request a log book: If you meet the above pre-requisites, you should contact us to request a FSRT provider log book. We will check your record to ensure you meet the pre-requisites. If we do not have records of any aspects required above, we will request that you provide them (e.g. provide us with a copy of your current first aid certificate).
  2. Attend a one-day FSRT provider course: The course will take you through the syllabus and ensure that you are able to provide clear demonstrations of all required elements. At least half of the day will be spent on the water. These courses are arranged to meet demand for providers, and regularly offered at regional coach update weekends and occasionally they are run independently (check our dates list for details). In order for us to be aware of the demand for this course, we ask that you register your interest in it using our easy online form - this will not only ensure we arrange a course when there is appropriate demand but ensure we contact you whenever a date for this course is arranged.
  3. Create an action plan: At the end of the provider training course you will work out a suitable action plan with the training course provider, who will write the action plan in your logbook and sign it to verify your attendance at the course.
  4. Complete your action plan: Action plans will usually include a minimum number of courses that you should observe / assist on prior to going to assessed delivery. In some cases, action plans may also include actions to improve a particular weak area of your paddling / delivery. All courses that you observe on should be logged in your FSRT provider logbook. You can always help on additional courses if you feel that your minimum number of assists has not prepared you fully for an assessed delivery.
  5. Assessed delivery: Once you have completed your action plan and feel ready to deliver a full course without any help, you should arrange an assessed delivery. This is where a current FSRT provider watches you run a full course and if you provide the course to a sufficient standard, the provider will sign the back page of your logbook to say that you are ready to become a full provider. If you do not meet the required standard of delivery, the course can be noted as an additional assisted course - but the provider should discuss with you the areas that were lacking and come up with a new action plan.
  6. Return your logbook to us: Once you have passed your assessed delivery, please return the completed logbook to us at the usual address. We will check that you have completed the action plan appropriately and that you still meet the requirement of a current BCU coach.
  7. Receive a letter and get providing: once your logbook has been processes, you will receive a letter to inform you that you have been registered as a Foundation Safety and Rescue training provider. You may now go ahead and provide such courses. Remember FSRT courses must be registered with us prior to being delivered.
There are no update requirements specific to providing this course, but you should ensure you remain current and keep yourself up to date with current best practice on safety an rescue issues. As long as you do that, you can continue to provide this course indefinitely.

Becoming a White Water Safety and Rescue (WWSR) course provider

Pre-reqs

In order to be a WWSR provider, you must:
  • Be either:
    • an 'old scheme' BCU Level 3 coach
    • a 'new scheme' BCU (UKCC) Level 3 Coach (white water or open canoe)
    • a 'new scheme' BCU (UKCC) Level 2 Coach with Moderate Water Endorsement (white water or open canoe)
  • Have held the BCU 5 star white water or open canoe (old scheme or new scheme) for at least 3 years.
  • Be a current BCU coach.

Training Process

  1. Request a log book: If you meet the above pre-requisites, you should contact us to request a WWSR provider log book. We will check your record to ensure you meet the pre-requisites. If we do not have records of any aspects required above, we will request that you provide them (e.g. provide us with a copy of your current first aid certificate).
  2. Attend a two-day WWSR provider course: The course will take you through the syllabus and ensure that you have the knowledge and experience to provide clear up-to-date information on white water safety and rescue issue. Much of the course will be spent on the water to ensure you have the technical skills to provide clear demonstrations of all required elements of the course, are able to chose suitable venues to demonstrate and practice skills and can keep all candidates on the course as safe as possible while doing so.
    We arrange these courses to meet demand for providers within Wales, but they are occasionally run by independent providers (check our dates list for details). In order for us to be aware of the demand for this course, we ask that you register your interest in it using our easy online form - this will not only ensure we arrange a course when there is appropriate demand but ensure we contact you whenever a date for this course is arranged.
  3. Create an action plan: At the end of the provider training course you will work out a suitable action plan with the training course provider, who will write the action plan in your logbook and sign it to verify your attendance at the course.
  4. Complete your action plan: Action plans will usually include a minimum number of courses that you should observe / assist on prior to going to assessed delivery. In some cases, action plans may also include actions to improve a particular weak area of your paddling / delivery. For candidates wishing to deliver the course in the craft for which they do not hold a 5 star, the action plan will include an extra days training in that craft. In addition, the action plan will contain the requirement to prepare a written risk assessment, which will be provided to the National Trainer. This risk assessment should form the basis of the risk disclosure that WWSR Providers will provide for their students. A BCU template is available on request.
    All courses that you observe on should be logged in your WWSR provider logbook. You can always help on additional courses if you feel that your minimum number of assists has not prepared you fully for an assessed delivery.
  5. Assessed delivery: Once you have completed your action plan and feel ready to deliver a full course without any help, you should arrange an assessed delivery. This is where a current WWSR provider that has delivered at least 3 courses within the past 3 years (for a list of providers that meet this requirement, please contact us) watches you run a full course. If you provide the course to a sufficient standard, the provider will sign the back page of your logbook to say that you are ready to become a full provider. If you do not meet the required standard of delivery, the course can be noted as an additional assisted course - but the provider should discuss with you the areas that were lacking and come up with a new action plan.
  6. Return your logbook to us: Once you have passed your assessed delivery, please return the completed logbook to us at the usual address. We will check that you have completed the action plan appropriately and that you still meet the requirement of a current BCU coach.
  7. Receive a letter and get providing: once your logbook has been processes, you will receive a letter to inform you that you have been registered as a White Water Safety and Rescue training provider. You may now go ahead and provide such courses. Remember WWSR courses must be registered with us prior to being delivered.
To remain current and registered as a WWSR Provider, you are required to deliver at least one course every 3 years. If you have been unable to do this, you can assist as a "suitably experienced assistant" on a BCU WWSR course within the next year to reinstate your provider status, ensuring your name appears on the course schedule. If you fail to do either of the above within 4 years, you will be considered as lapsed and must re-attend the two-day orientation course or fulfil some other action plan as deemed necessary by us.

In addition to the minimum delivery requirement, you must fulfil an update requirement every 3 years. The two avenues ways to do this are:
1) Attend a 1 day update training event delivered by a Home Nation Trainer, these will take place at the region update weekends.
2) Deliver a WWSR course alongside a Home Nation Trainer, details of whom can be found on our provider list page.