British Canoeing Awarding Body is delighted to launch two brand new eLearning packages: Navigation for Paddlers and Open Crossings. Navigate the water with confidence The Navigation for Paddlers eLearning is ideal for anyone navigating on the water, including sea and river paddlers, stand up paddleboarders, clubs, coaches and leaders. This module introduces both pre-trip planning and on-the-water navigating, including when you may need to change your plan. Topics covered include handrailing, collection points, and aiming off and attack points. 

Open letter challenges Powys County Council (PCC) on their reluctance to re-open the Upper Glas-y-Bont common on the river Wye in Glasbury for paddlesports. The River Wye between Glasbury and Hay has been used by canoeists for over 100 years, by virtue of permission granted for the public launching of canoes by the landowner of Upper Glas-y-Bont Common. Powys County Council has owned this site since 1994. In April 2021 the Council suspended canoe launching at Glas-y-Bont Common while it conducted a Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) to evaluate the potential impact of paddlesports on the river environment. This routine process has still not been completed after the passage of more than 3½ years. SWOAPG, with local activity providers, craft hire operators and national representative bodies, has been working with the Council to develop a ‘concordat arrangement’ which would enable paddlesport touring activity to resume at the site, for both individual users and businesses. Broad agreement had been reached early this year, when a group of fishery owners stepped in and demanded restrictions far beyond those requested by both the Council and Natural Resources Wales (NRW, the environmental regulator). The Council seems reluctant to challenge the fisheries group for fear of legal repercussions and has recently announced that the concordat arrangement is ‘on hold’. Paddlesport organisations are now calling on the Council to take a less cautious approach to break the deadlock and resume public access to this important stretch of river that has been the starting point for so many paddlers’ journeys of recreational discovery and development.

Canoe Wales is thrilled to invite you to our Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP) Qualification Webinar. This session is designed to provide comprehensive guidance on British Canoeing Awarding Body (BCAB) qualifications, including the SUP Instructor transfer/Course and Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL). Webinar Highlights Whether you're already involved in teaching and leading or considering maintaining your connection with Canoe Wales, this webinar will offer valuable insights and support. Here's what you can expect: Detailed guidance on BCAB qualifications Information on the SUP Instructor transfer course Understanding the Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) Opportunities to connect and engage with Canoe Wales Webinar Details Date: January 22, 2025 Time: 07:30 PM (London Time) Platform: Zoom Registration To attend, please register in advance using the link below: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtd-CqpjgjE9Eo9OYDDONZNdangMk7-OkT After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details on how to join the meeting. Please ensure to log in 5 minutes before the session starts to avoid any delays. Contact For any questions or further information, feel free to reach out to us. Kind regards, Emily King & Andy Turton Canoe Wales Team

Have you ever had an access issue when trying to get on the water, are you concerned about the quality of our waters? Canoe Wales is excited to announce openings for enthusiastic volunteers to join our Access and Environment Sub-Committee. We are seeking passionate, knowledgeable, and motivated individuals who want to make a difference in the paddling community and help enhance access to Wales’s inland and coastal waterways while protecting the environment.

Are you passionate about sharing your skills and knowledge in safety, leadership, instruction, or coaching? Canoe Wales is looking for dedicated members interested in becoming Tutors (Providers) for various qualifications.