VOLUNTARY INSTRUCTOR SCHEME AT
MARLE HALL OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTRE
(Revised June 2010)
Aims of the Voluntary Instructor Scheme
The VI scheme has been set up at Marle Hall to give young people (18 – 25 years) the opportunity to
gain experience and qualifications relevant for starting a career in the outdoors. It is the ideal
position for gap year students who are interested in outdoor activities and wish to work with young
people in the future. We aim to:
 Provide high quality instructor training during a year of practical experience for someone who is
considering a career in outdoor education
 Give VI’s the opportunity to gain NGB qualifications
 Develop teaching skills in a variety of adventure activities so that VI’s can progress from basic
instructing to running sessions at a higher level
 Give our VI’s the opportunity to work on a range of activities with a variety of highly experienced
and qualified instructors.
If accepted onto the scheme, we will create opportunities for you to develop your skills in the
following areas:
Group Management
Working alongside our professional experienced instructors you will be tutored in the following skills
when working with groups:

Styles of delivery

Pitch

Tone

Supervision

Assertiveness
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Boundaries
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Discipline
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Group awareness
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Authority
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Friendliness

Empathy and understanding
Technical Skills
There will be opportunities to develop a range of technical skills whilst at the centre and on days off.
You will be encouraged to make the most of your time off to develop your own personal climbing,
mountaineering, canoeing and kayaking skills with the support of our staff. Throughout your year, we
will spend time focusing on the following key areas:

Climbing - Personal and Group

Canoeing - Personal and Group

Kayaking - Personal and Group

Mountaineering - Personal and Group

Gorge walking with groups

Teaching orienteering

Using High Ropes courses

Sea Level Traversing with groups

Bushcraft with groups

Environmental knowledge and awareness

Teamwork activities

Reviewing skills
Payment
As this is a voluntary instructor scheme, we cannot guarantee any payment for work at the centre.
However, towards the end of the placement you may gain sufficient experience and/or qualifications to
be signed off to run certain activities (e.g. on-site activities, local walks, etc). On certain occasions we
may offer some payment for these sessions, at our discretion.
(See also section on Fire Wardens below)
Centre Ethos
The centre has a very strong ethos which is based around the following words:

Respect

Responsibility

Teamwork

Challenge
We encourage our VI’s to take on our ethos and help our visiting groups to understand how the ethos
affects them and those around them.
Courses
VIs are encouraged to gain as many qualifications as they are ready for. It is important that you
develop your skills in the areas that interest you. Some of the awards that we are able to offer are:

Walking Group Leader Award

Mountain Leader Award

BCU Awards

SPA Award

First Aid

Fire Warden training

Child Protection training
If you are interested in other relevant training or assessment courses that we are not running
ourselves, and we think you have the required experience, then we will consider assisting with the
funding of these through an annual training budget allowance.
Insurance
VI’s will be covered under the Warwickshire County Council insurance whilst working as volunteers at
the centre. The cover does not extend to personal outdoor and adventurous activities and you are
encouraged to take out your own insurance for this.
Police checks and Safeguarding
As you will be working with children and vulnerable adults it is a requirement that you undertake an
enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check before starting work as a VI. We will pay for this but will
need your assistance to ensure that we have all the correct details.
Food and Accommodation
Accommodation is provided in a two bedroomed flat which is part of the centre building. The flat also
includes a kitchen, bathroom and hall/sitting area.
The centre will provide all your food whilst you are resident here. This involves eating with the
students and staff in our dining room. You must let our domestic team know if you do not require a
meal on a particular day. When the centre is closed e.g. weekends, food will be provided so VI’s can
cook for themselves in the flat. Access to the main centre kitchen is restricted.
Log books/diaries
VIs will need to keep a log of the activities undertaken each week, whether in an observational
capacity, team teaching, or supervised leading. This will help you, and us, to monitor your progress. It
also forms part of our activity signing off procedure.
We advise you to keep a log of all your personal and group experience as this is important evidence for
future work and many assessments require a completed log book (e.g. ML, BCU, SPA, etc).
Duties
VI’s are very important to the smooth running of the centre and are integral members of our staff
team. We ask that the VI’s take on responsibility for a number of key areas:
Assist with the setting up of each course, organising kit and clothing for the visiting groups.
Help supervise the issue of kit and ensure it is returned to stores.
Each morning, help our visiting groups to obtain and present the weather forecast.
VI’s will be expected to take an active role in assisting with evening activities for one or two evenings a
week. This involves being available to help the visiting members of staff to set up the activities on the
first night of every course (often, but not exclusively, a Monday), and then possibly assisting them on
another night during the week.
There are other duties which may be changed from time to time. A full list will be agreed with you at
the start of your placement.
Kitchen Work
During busy times you may be required to carry out some kitchen duties which may include, sandwich
making, preparing foods, clearing away and serving to customers.
Fire Wardens
VI’s act as Fire Wardens to support all groups resident in the Centre overnight, taking responsibility
for arranging fire drills and supervising evacuation of the Centre should the fire alarm go off. You will
receive training early in your placement for this and a nominal payment.
Outdoor Education in the wider context of Education
Through assisting at Marle Hall on our residential schools programmes, VI’s will develop an
understanding of how the work at the centre supports and enhances students learning back in school.
By the end of the year you should have an understanding of the specific links between Outdoor
Education and the National Curriculum, and the value of Outdoor Education in developing life skills.
Mentoring
Each VI will be supported by a member of the Marle Hall staff team who will be your mentor for the
time you are at the centre. The role of the mentor is to regularly review your progress and
development and identify your specific training needs to ensure the maximum development during your
stay at the centre.
Professionalism
As a VI working at an educational centre such as Marle Hall we have a high expectation of your
professionalism. We expect the following:
 Politeness to all members of staff (permanent and visiting)
 Politeness to all students
 Good time keeping
 A clean and tidy appearance at the start of each day
 A positive attitude towards your work and others
 A willingness to take on a variety of jobs (often with little notice!)
 The ability to show initiative and be proactive
 Behaviour that is both professional and appropriate whilst working with others
Arrival and Departure
Arrival times will be organised with the Head or Deputy Head of Centre in agreement with the VI.
The VI scheme is based on a 12 month contract and we invest a lot of time in the scheme.
Therefore we ask that all VI’s sign up for the full 12 months, subject to a 3 month trial/settling in
period. Should a VI wish to leave before the end of the 12 months then they will need to inform the
Head/ Deputy Head of Centre and discuss the reasons why.
Occasionally, if both the centre and the VI feel that once the 12 month period is up, it would be
beneficial to both parties to extend the stay, then this may be considered.
MARLE HALL VOLUNTARY INSTRUCTOR SCHEME CONTRACT
Please read the following and then complete the form and send this section only back to Marle Hall
I would like to join the Marle Hall Voluntary Instructor Scheme
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(please tick)
Please complete the section below after discussion with either Helena or Martin.
Name……………………………………………………………
Contact details of
referee 1
Contact details of
referee 2
Address……………………………………………………….
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Telephone Numbers
Home……………………………………………………………
Mobile………………………………………………………….
NI No…………………………………………………………..
Date of Birth
/ /
Next of kin…………………………………………………
Address of next of kin
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Contact Number of next of kin
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We look forward to welcoming you.
The Marle Hall Staff Team.
Medical Conditions (please let us know of any
medical conditions you have e.g. asthma)
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Voluntary Instructor Scheme Dates:
From………………………………………………………………
To…………………………………………………………………..
Signed………………………………………………………………(VI)
Signed………………………………………….………(MH Staff)