Home : Trip Leaders

Leaders

Requirements to lead a trip

To lead trips (Weekend Trips and Minibus Day Trips) for the club you to have done a suitable 16 hour first aid course within the last three years.

You're then, by default, a 'level 1' leader and so can help lead trips to 'non-challenging terrain' such as the Forest of Dean, New Forest, Malverns and Stonehenge.

You can take a two day 'Club Leader' course and become a 'level 2' leader, this adds locations such as the Mendip Hills, Quantock Hills, Bodmin Moor and coastal paths (e.g. Cornwall, Gower, South Coast and Pembrokeshire). This is a great introduction to group leading and only takes a weekend!

If you take a three day 'Walking Group Leader' (WGL) training course you'll be a 'level 3' leader. This adds most other areas that aren't mountainous or remote, such as Dartmoor, Exmoor and the Yorkshire Dales. The course covers all the skills you'll need to take groups out on the hills, including navigation, safety, weather, access... It's great for those who would like to lead but don't fancy ropework or anything too mountainous! You should have some experience of walking in areas like the above.

If you do a six day 'Mountain Leader' (ML) training course you're a 'level 4' leader. You can then lead trips to mountainous or remote areas, such as Snowdonia, the Lake District, the Brecon Beacons and Scotland. It covers the whole range of skills including ropework, steep ground and river crossings -- it's best for those with a reasonable level of hillwalking experience.

The club is always in need of new leaders at all levels. The courses cater for a wide variety of experience and what you want to do; please ask if you're not sure what's for you! The club leader and WGL courses are great ways of starting off, and don't require so much time and money as ML! However, we try to subsidise all these courses to an extent, so we can bring down the cost a bit.

If you're interested in taking any of the courses mentioned above or would like some more information, contact the Trip and Safety Coordinator (trip.safety(at)ouwc.org).

Trip Leader Training

The club organises regular Mountain Leader (ML) training courses (6 days) and Walking Group Leader (WGL) training courses (3 days). These courses are open to all members, although priority is given to those intending to lead trips for the club. In order to lead minibus day trips or weekend trips for the club, you must have undertaken an appropriate leader training course (as set out in the Trip Leader Safety Document) and hold a valid first aid qualification. Leading Trips is a rewarding experience, and, of course, all of these qualifications count for something in the real world. If you're definitely interested, contact trip.safety(a)ouwc.org.

The club also organises subsidised 16-hour Mountain First Aid courses, which are run by Oxford University First Aid Unit. Oxford University First Aid Unit also run courses themselves, and subsidies may be available for members taking these courses and then leading walks for the club. Email trip.safety(at)ouwc.org for more information.

In order to lead a Weekend Trip or a Minibus Day-trip for the Club, you must be registered as a Trip Leader with the Club. There are five different categories of Trip Leader, based on level of training, which dictate the areas to which trips can be led. Further information may be found in the Trip Leader Safety Document (HT 2007). The Club has an official List Of Trip Leaders, but we are always on the lookout for more.

Resources For Leaders

The following are intended as useful/essential resources for Trip Leaders, but may also be of interest to others.

• Payment Request Form - form to claim money for expenses incurred (for example when leading trips).
• Trip Guidance Notes: Michaelmas 2007 - notes giving guidance for the efficient running of Trips
• Local Walk Leaders' Advice Sheet
• Sports Fed Trip Registration Form - safety form to be completed on-line by 1pm on the Thursday before every trip
• Risk Assessment - version here is valid from November 2006
• Equipment List
• Participation Statement - every participant must read and sign this form before a trip
• Loan Agreement for Trip Leaders - form for equipment to be completed and handed to the Quartermaster on the Tuesday before each trip
• Loan Agreement for Members - any trip participants wishing to borrow Club equipment should fill in this form
• Minibus Drivers' Advice Sheet - advice sheet produced by the Club and distributed to Club minibus drivers (Hilary 2007)
• Incident Card - a sheet detailing the procedures to be followed in the case of an emergency
• OUWC Accommodation File - list of possible accommodation for trips, including hostels, bunkhouses, barns, huts, and campsites
• OUWC Good Pub Guide - list of pubs visited on trips
• Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000) - information about the new act that allows walkers the 'Right to Roam' in certain areas