Volunteer Training

Awards Plus -

Training opportunities are regularly provided by Awards Plus and through City of Edinburgh Council. Individuals providing regular volunteering support can receive funding towards relevant qualifications.
Please see Calendar and sign up to receive newsletters.

We organise and signpost to:
Introduction to the DofE Online course for new DofE leaders and helpers, covering all the basics including processes for supporting young people through their DofE programme. Free, funded by DofE for volunteers registered with a Licensed Organisation.

DofE Expedition Assessor & Supervisor Training Course

Covers the principles and conditions of the Expedition Section to ensure participants enjoy a safe and high-quality expedition. Includes roles and their key tasks; how to complete a supervision plan and apply appropriate levels of supervision; how to complete the steps to assessment and ensuring the 20 conditions of the Expedition Section are met; how to progress through the accreditation route to assess expeditions.

Outdoor First Aid (16 hours)

A practical first aid course covering basic life support, common injuries and managing first aid incidents in remote locations. Suitable for validating most outdoor qualifications. Valid for 3 years.

Mountain Training: Walk Leadership Awards

National Governing Body qualifications run by Awards Plus, City of Edinburgh Council and Partners

Lowland Leader Award

For leading walking groups in lowland countryside and woodland, in summer conditions. A 2-day training course is followed by a consolidation period and a 2-day assessment.

Camping Leader

For supervising camping and teaching campcraft activities; skills covered apply to groups using serviced campsites and wild camps. This is a new qualification replacing the Expedition Skills Module.

Mountain Leader

For leading walking groups in British mountains in summer conditions. A 6-day training course is followed by a consolidation period and a 5-day assessment.

Ramblers Scotland Out There Award

National Navigation Awards

Awards Network

For youth workers, teachers, attainment advisors and others to learn how youth awards support learning and recognise achievement. Free.

How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in volunteering! Please Contact Us outlining the role(s) you are interested in via our online form.

We arrange an informal meeting with all new volunteers, this helps to ensure that you and the role are a good fit, and it gives you an opportunity to ask lots of questions and for us to find out how we can best support your volunteering. At this meeting we’ll give you a PVG membership form.
You’ll need to return the PVG membership form along with some identification – this can be done in person or by post.

PVG membership applications can take 3-6 weeks to complete. We’ll tell you when this is approved, then we’ll add you to our mailing list and you’re free to volunteer.