What the Role Entails

As a Canoe Open Water Leader Tutor, you will support paddlers to develop their canoe leadership skills on Open Water.
You will be sharing your knowledge, skills and experience with aspirant leaders. This could be throughout their development process by providing training sessions, or it could just be at the point of assessment. These will be tailored around the needs of the paddlers in front of you.
You may even help the paddlers develop an action plan for their long-term goals. For example, their next steps towards either a more advanced discipline or the Guide Endorsement.
How do I become a Canoe Open Water Leader Tutor?
Leadership qualifications are a managed role. This means that applications are only taken when a needs analysis shows an area or discipline needs more Providers.
Once applications are open, you will have 4 weeks to submit your application. You will need to provide referees, so please make sure you think carefully about who these could be. If you are successful, then you will need to complete the following steps:
Online Learning
Firstly, you will need to attend an online webinar. This will cover the theory and the ethos of the leadership awards, as well as what will be expected of you as a provider. You will get to discuss and share best practice with providers from a range of different disciplines.
Orientation Event
You will work alongside other aspirant Canoe Open Water Leader Tutors to share best practice, during the 2-day events, facilitated by a National Association Trainer.
This event includes a skills verification. At the end of the 2 days you will agree an action plan with your trainer and, depending on the outcome, may become a Leadership Tutor.
Maintaining your Role as a Canoe Open Water Leader Tutor
Once you have been awarded the role, you will be expected to meet the Update Scheme requirements.
In addition to this, you will also need to maintain your skills and coaching ability in the open water environment. You will have the opportunity to attend face to face and online meetings to share best practice and updates. This includes a yearly ‘hot topic’ online meeting and a face to face moderation every 3 years.
Minimum Requirements
Environment Specific Coaching Qualification
To become a Canoe Open Water Leader Tutor you will be expected to hold experience of coaching and leading in the open water environment. This can be by holding one of the following British Canoeing Awarding Body coaching qualifications:
- Open Water Canoe Coach
- MWE Canoe Coach
- BCU Level 3 Canoe Coach
We also accept applications for Accreditation of Prior Learning where you do not hold a qualification but have demonstrable experience and expertise.
PPA Provider
You should be a Paddle Award Provider and be, or be working towards, the relevant Personal Performance Award Provider roles to the open water environment such as:
- Canoe Award Provider
Assessor Training
You will hold, or be working towards, an Assessing qualification that meets the National Occupational Standards this could be any of the following:
- British Canoeing Awarding Body Assessor Training
- Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocational Related Achievement (QCF)
- Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocational Achievement (QCF)
- Level 3 Award in Assessing Competence in the Work Environment (QCF)
- Conduct the Assessment Process PDA (SCQF, L&D9)
- Assess Workplace Competence Using Direct Methods (SCQF, L&D9D)
- Assess Workplace Competence Using Direct and Indirect Methods (SCQF, L&D9DI)
- NVQ A1 Assessor Award
- NVQ D32/D33 Assessor Award
Further Instructions
Applications open in April each year. An ‘Apply Now’ button will appear on all open roles. Please read the instructions on the application for application deadlines and offline options.
Orientations will be agreed with successful applicants. Orientations are face to face, the orientation fee will be confirmed in the application pack. There may be additional costs in the case of a final sign off being required.
MAINTAINING YOUR PROVIDER ROLE
Once you have been awarded the role of Canoe Open Water Leader Tutor you will be expected to stay up to date under the Update Scheme.
In addition to this you will also be expected to maintain your skills and coaching ability in the open water environment. You will also be expected to attend face to face and online meetings to share best practice and updates. This takes the form of a yearly ‘hot topic’ meeting online and a face to face moderation every 3 years.
Booking Now

What the Role Entails
As a Canoe Open Water Leader Tutor, you will support paddlers to develop their canoe leadership skills on Open Water.
You will be sharing your knowledge, skills and experience with aspirant leaders. This could be throughout their development process by providing training sessions, or it could just be at the point of assessment. These will be tailored around the needs of the paddlers in front of you.
You may even help the paddlers develop an action plan for their long-term goals. For example, their next steps towards either a more advanced discipline or the Guide Endorsement.
How do I become a Canoe Open Water Leader Tutor?
Leadership qualifications are a managed role. This means that applications are only taken when a needs analysis shows an area or discipline needs more Providers.
Once applications are open, you will have 4 weeks to submit your application. You will need to provide referees, so please make sure you think carefully about who these could be. If you are successful, then you will need to complete the following steps:
Online Learning
Firstly, you will need to attend an online webinar. This will cover the theory and the ethos of the leadership awards, as well as what will be expected of you as a provider. You will get to discuss and share best practice with providers from a range of different disciplines.
Orientation Event
You will work alongside other aspirant Canoe Open Water Leader Tutors to share best practice, during the 2-day events, facilitated by a National Association Trainer.
This event includes a skills verification. At the end of the 2 days you will agree an action plan with your trainer and, depending on the outcome, may become a Leadership Tutor.
Maintaining your Role as a Canoe Open Water Leader Tutor
Once you have been awarded the role, you will be expected to meet the Update Scheme requirements.
In addition to this, you will also need to maintain your skills and coaching ability in the open water environment. You will have the opportunity to attend face to face and online meetings to share best practice and updates. This includes a yearly ‘hot topic’ online meeting and a face to face moderation every 3 years.