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August News

Update on the Expedition Assessor Accreditation Scheme

The major changes include:
(1) An individual no longer needs to complete the Introduction to the DofE course, but will need to provide the letter of completion from the free DofE online e-induction, available at www.DofEtraining.org
(2) Assessors now get a free ID card holder (iDPod) on accreditation for their ID cards
(3) The training resources, including the pre-course learning modules, delivery platform, course notes, and log book have changed to reflect the new brand
(4) The administration processes of the courses have changed to make them simpler

The Boys’ Brigade Expedition Notification

From the start of the 2010 expedition season, all notifications of expeditions sent to B.B.Headquarters must include a completed ‘Notification Form’ giving full details. These will be required at least four weeks in advance and are necessary (1) to register the expedition with The Boys’ Brigade and (2) to confirm that the proposed routes and plans, if followed, comply with the Expedition Section in terms of team size and make up, environment, and hours of planned activity.

An electronic version of the form will be available from the Brigade’s website which can be completed on-line, along with a downloadable ‘hard copy’ if required.

Open Gold Expedition

The Boys’ Brigade, in partnership with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award - Dartmoor Assessor Network, is organising an Open Gold Expedition (journeying and exploring opportunities available) on Dartmoor from 21st to 27th August, 2010. Based at Broadleas Camping and Training Centre, Haytor, Devon and staffed by accredited assessors, this is an excellent opportunity to link in with other individuals and groups to complete a qualifying or full practice journey. The cost is £95 per person and it is open to individuals or participants from other Organisations. Details are available from Dave. Mayo on telephone 01543 271182 or e-mail dave_mayo@btinternet.com

Level 2 Award in Basic Expedition Leadership

The Boys' Brigade in Birmingham, in partnership with Chase Training Solutions and Solihull College, is organising a B.E.L. course delivered over four weekends and three day-long sessions between October 2009 and February 2010. To complete the B.E.L. participants will also be required to undertake 30 hours working and leading groups. This is an ideal course for those wishing to instruct within the Expedition Section of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award at Bronze and Silver levels in open, rural countryside or work towards the Volunteering Section of the Award or develop outdoor leadership skills, and is a recognised National Governing Body qualification. The cost of the course is £175.00 per person which includes all tuition, registration, and residential fees. Delegates will also complete the NVQ Level 2 in Sport, Recreation and Allied Occupations: Activity Leadership qualification at no additional cost. The delivery will be in the Midlands area. Details are available from Dave. Mayo on telephone number 01543 271182 or e-mail dave.mayo@chasetrainingsolutions.co.uk

The DofE Award

Congratulations to Ashley Woodhouse of 25th Nottingham Company who has gained his Bronze Standard of The DofE Award.

Miniature pins are no longer an option for successful Gold Award participants – the choice in future will be either a standard Gold DofE lapel badge or, more commonly chosen by girls, a Gold DofE brooch.

The Award is currently putting together a “Bounce your ideas around” box which will contain cards for numerous activities which will help as a guide to trainers, leaders and participants in choosing what subjects to take in the various Sections of The Award. The box is expected to be available for purchase at approximately £20 from Award Scheme Limited after 1st October 2009. In essence this replaces the Programmes File which was withdrawn a couple of years ago but Leaders should also be able to get guidance on programmes via The Award website www.DofE.org

Changes to arrangements for National Gold Award Presentations

Some changes have been made and others proposed in order to streamline Gold Award Presentations at St. James’ Palace:
(1) An invitation to a young person to attend a Gold Award Presentation will only be deferred once in future, and not twice as hitherto. If they decline the first invitation, they will not be invited for another three months (amendment to a longer waiting period is under discussion to cater for “gap”(years). If they then do not attend following the second invitation, they will be sent their Certificate by post. (2) Except as above, young people will no longer be “on hold” pending availability.
(3) Within The Boys’ Brigade, following initial approval of the Record Book at Felden Lodge, a “Notification of Attainment of Gold Award” form is sent for Leaders and Participants to complete and return to Felden. This Form has recently changed its reference and is now GA6 and even that has again been revised this month. Although it is not thought The Boys’ Brigade is a particular culprit, because The Award have had problems with Leaders failing to turn up to Gold Award Presentations thereby taking up valuable space plus other reasons, they have decided to revise the procedure and there is now no reference on Form GA6 to inviting any Adult Representative. There will instead be one separate form sent with each batch of Forms GA6 by completion of which it is hoped it will still be possible to invite one Adult Representative for each Company. Once returned, this form will be held at Felden Lodge until the appropriate Presentation date is known in order to relate the right Leader to the right recipient/s and it will then be submitted to the G.A.P. Office at Windsor requesting an invitation for the given date. Invitations to Leaders have always been and remain subject to circumstances so Leaders should not assume they will receive an invitation - in any case it will not be received until much nearer the Presentation date than those received by their recipients and the one personal guest they are still allowed.

Keith W. Vinerd

National Boys' Brigade

Nottingham School Holidays 2013/14