Home : Trip Organisers and Leaders
The Club is always in need of new leaders at all levels. The courses outlined below cater for a wide variety of experience and interests. Leading on trips is a rewarding experience, and, of course, all of these qualifications/experience count for something in the real world. Please ask the Training Officer () if you're not sure what's for you! Further information on how our trips and leadership structure work may be found in the Trip Leader Safety Document.
N.B. The leader requirements were amended at the Michaelmas Term 2014 TGM to relax some of the course requirements.
N.B. For leading on Local Walks you only need to have been on a Local Walk before - see the Local Walks information page.
First aid course: to lead on trips (Weekend Trips and Minibus Day Trips) there is one basic thing that you need: a First Aid Course taken within the last three years. The club organizes a 16 hour (2 day) first aid course, usually annually near the beginning of Hilary term. The course is outdoors-oriented, and so ideal for anyone looking to lead trips in the future or those who wish to have a little first-aid knowledge for their own walking trips. No previous first aid training is required. Contact () if interested.
Mountains Skills (MS) course: this is very useful for those wishing to lead on OUWC trips in mountainous terrain. See the subheadings “Level 3 OUWC Leader” and “The Assistant Leader Scheme” below.
You may become a level 1 OUWC leader if you:
You may become a level 2 leader if you:
You may become a level 3 leader if you:
You may become a level 4 leader if you:
This was introduced at the TGM of Michaelmas Term 2014, to make it easier to become a level 3 OUWC leader. See the TGM minutes, which describe the changes to the Trip Leader Safety Document (TLSD) that were made. The below is adapted from the new TLSD:
Any member of the club who has completed the Mountain Skills Course is eligible to become an assistant leader with the club. As with full leaders, all assistant leaders must be approved by committee, in addition to holding a first aid qualification that matches the requirements outlined for becoming a level 2 leader (see above). The responsibilities of an assistant leader are the same as those of a full leader.
An assistant leader, or group of assistant leaders, should not lead a planned walk without the presence of a full leader in the group.
After a minimum of 2 trips as an assistant leader (both of which must be on terrain of level 2 or above, of which at least one must be on level 3 terrain) the assistant leader is eligible to become a full level 3 leader. This requires committee approval in the same manner as all other leadership approvals (see above). Once full leader status has been granted, the leader has the same status as if they were an ML trained full leader, with the exception of not being permitted to lead on scrambles.