Expedition Training for Special Needs 2000 Expedition

Special Needs 2000,
It is intended that East Midlands Region of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme
will run an regional expedition for Award participants with special needs.

The expedition will be in Derbyshire, it will be open to any participants
with special needs, allowing them the opportunity to undertake an expedition at an appropriate level.

The week will be further opened up to Gold participants to help assist with the week thus
working towards the residential section of their own award.

on Sunday 3 October 1999
4 award participants from "the Nene Centre" Northampton
held a "skills" afternoon with candidates and instructors working on a BELA course
for Northamptonshire County Council Youth Services.

	the afternoon started with some navigation training by Hillary McDermott Hillary is the expedition leader, Hillary holds her Mountain Leader Training Board certificate, and is a DoE expedition trainer & assessor at all levels of the award.
	participants from the Nene centre included Ray Cogings Julie Bottomley Darren Everson-Watts and Derek Law Carol Ann Wadsworth from the Nene centre staff is also pictured
	the next Skill was "Living out of Doors" including basic campcraft, cooking, etc.
	the actual expedition will be held at Cory House in Matlock Cory house is a self-catering unit with facilities for everyone including wheelchair users.
	participants are encouraged and aided to carry out as many skills as they can for themselves, although this can be time consuming it is very satisfying for both the participant and their helper Julie aided by Louisa assemble tent poles
	it is intended to hold two formal expedition training sessions at Grendon Hall, in Northamptonshire during Spring 2000
	the expedition in Derbyshire will be planned during the sessions at Grendon Hall and will include authorised variations to current expedition targets. the result will be a tough but fair challenge for the award candidates
	the two participants from the BELA course held during the same weekend at Grendon Hall were Louisa Smith from St. Peters School, Northampton and Alan Broughton from the Gateway project in Daventry
	the afternoon was of direct benefit to the two BELA candidates as amongst the Ten units of the BELA qualification demonstrated during the afternoon were Leadership & Party Management Instructional & Organisational Method Planning & Preparation Navigation Equipment Living Out-of-doors