Events
The Club uses the Spond application to advertise and manage official Club events and trips.
Once a person becomes a member of the Club they should download the Spond app to their own device. A link can be found on the members facebook area or a can be requested from a member of the Club Committee.
Once registered in Spond, members will be assigned to the sub groups within Spond based on their experience, ability or qualification.
There are 5 sub groups within our Club environment:
0. General Club Events,
1. Easy Touring Trips, flat water or moving water with easier and shorter rapids.
2. Moderate Touring Trips, up to grade 2 white water.
3. White Water Trips, grade 2-3 white water.
4. Progressive White Water., grade 3-4 white water.
As their names suggest, the skill level and commitment required for each group becomes progressively higher.
All members are initially assigned to “General Club Events” and “Easy Touring Trips” These trips are generally suitable for all ability levels. (weather dependent)
Once a member demonstrates that they are paddling at an appropriate skill level they will be assigned to the higher groups by consensus of the Club coaching/Leading community.
Members should be aware that the skill level groups within Spond are used to ensure that only those members with the required skill level are invited to events or trips. Spond is also used to control the number of participants to ensure our leaders remain with their own British Canoeing Qualification remit.
With this in mind please do not invite any additional guest paddlers without advance agreement from the trip leader.
As events or trips are advertised on Spond, members are asked to respond within the app based on a genuine desire to attend so places are not artificially withheld from other members. If a trip or event becomes over subscribed a waiting list is automatically started.
Where a trip is arranged by a Leader external to the club, a club representative will be sought from those attending the trip.
The role of the “club rep” is to:
• Liaise with the trip leader on potential venues, aspirations of the group.
• Ensure/confirm details of the trip and meeting points are publicised and updated in Spond as required in partnership with the trip leader.
• Co-ordinate collection and return of club kit.
• Co-ordinate travel arrangements.
• Act as a single point of contact if the Leader has any questions of the group.
• Carry out river bank introductions.
Posts on Spond should be limited to those directly in connection with advertising, managing and attending events or trips.
Note:
The Spond chat function may also be used by Club members to communicate ad hoc peer paddles between members. These are not official Club events and sit outside the Club’s safety framework. They are arranged between consenting, suitably experienced members of the Club acting on their own initiative. (More information regarding the difference between a peer paddle and an official Club event can be found on the Here.)
Find the app or use online at the below link