TS TIGER, Leicester Sea Cadets, is a unit which forms part of the Sea Cadet Corps, a youth organisation for young people aged 9 – 18 years, based on the traditions and customs of the Royal Navy. Cadets are trained in disciplines on and off the water such as first aid, catering and water sports, whilst being supported by qualified volunteer instructors. They have the opportunity to learn new skills, gain recognised qualifications and develop their leadership and teamwork.
On 30th May at 2100hrs, 2 cadets from TS TIGER joined 2 other cadets and 1 adult from around the Area to complete their paddle sport instructor qualification on the River Soar at Leicester Sea Cadet Unit.
On day 1 the cadets woke up and had a hearty breakfast before settling down to some theory sessions. These included “what makes a great paddle sport instructor” and what needs to be done before and when a group arrives. They then worked on getting kitted up with the right equipment and clothing, and making sure the group was doing the same. A practical session followed this with each participant leading a warmup session for the group and learning about the importance of an effective warm up. After lunch they moved on to cover safe manual handling and practical sessions on how to help people with the basics – getting on / off the water, how to hold the paddle, stability, posture, basic paddling skills. They were also working on identifying and fixing common errors. They all led a game with the aim of learning how to create safe, empowering and fun learning. The cadets demonstrated their ability to complete different rescues from their craft including a self-rescue. The evening was spent completing their personal development workbooks, planning their sessions for the following day and then playing some games.
Day 2 started with a recap on day 1, then moved onto delivering the sessions planned on Saturday evening. Everyone gave feedback on the sessions. The late morning was spent journeying where topics covered included group management, group safety, activities for different purposes, leadership styles, selecting the correct level of challenge, and use of the environment. After lunch the cadets continued their rescues and completed a theory session on deployment matters, action planning, furthering qualifications and remit. At the end of the course the cadets had their individual debriefs before returning home having both passed their course.
For these cadets, this was an opportunity that they wouldn’t have been fortunate enough to have without the kind contribution from the Ulysses Trust to support their qualification. We would like to thank the Ulysses Trust for supporting our cadets and for giving them the opportunity to partake in this adventure.
Quote from LC S P:
“The Paddle Instructor Course was exciting, enjoyable and extremely beneficial. Throughout the course, we covered essential areas such as rescue techniques, safety protocols, and the main responsibilities of a Paddlesport Instructor. This opportunity also allowed us to connect with other cadets and staff, working alongside them to prepare for and carry out a range of rescue and instructional tasks. We are grateful for the support of The Ulysses Trust in making this experience possible. Thank you for helping us become qualified Paddlesport Instructors which will further benefit other cadets in their own paddlesport journeys.”
