SCA Annual Report 2019

Scottish Canoe Association Annual Report 2019 - 2020 1 SCA Annual Report: April 2019 - March 2020 Contents Our Mission Introductions from the SCA To enable and inspire involvement in paddlesport; for Page 3 President, Chair & CEO enjoyment, health, community, challenge and achievement. Page 9 Coaching & Education Pathways & Achievement - Page 17 Olympic & Paralympic Our Vision Page 19 Membership Working collaboratively at the heart of paddlesport Page 20 Participation & Events communities in Scotland to create more paddlers, more Page 21 Financials members and more national and international success. Page 25 Access & Environment Our Values Page 26 Equality Group Discipline Committee • Leadership Page 27 Reports • Engagement Openness #WeAreTheSCA • Our Board, Staff & • Inclusiveness Page 36 Committees • Responsibility SCA Recognition Awards • Collaboration Page 38 2019 2 SCA Annual Report: April 2019 - March 2020 Foreword from the President I write this introduction having read all In the pages that follow- and they are paddling in one discipline, would quickly of the reports below. It reminds me yet worth having a look at-there are some encounter opportunities across this again of how diverse a sport we are- common themes showing the integrity sport because people talk to each other, from top level international elite activity, of Scottish Paddlers - a commitment to share opportunities and have an innate to introductory leisure/family/ encouraging participation of the young commitment to bringing people on. recreational activities. Right across that and widening the reach and diversity of spectrum there is a lot to be proud of, participants, a strong identification with It’s good to see new areas developing in and you can read that for yourselves - I the sport as a whole and of taking care SUP paddling, likewise the Ocean Racing would quietly suggest that together we of the environment we pursue it in. communities. Following many other are punching well above our collective There’s a sense of crossover, you get the areas, both these disciplines are weight. impression that anyone who starts reaching new paddlers by combining 3 SCA Annual Report: April 2019 - March 2020 Foreword from the President both competitive and recreational continuing to attract newcomers whilst Again the online activity of you all has approaches. I firmly believe that these achieving at the highest levels. It is demonstrated that we as a whole are a are complementary aspects, not good to see that Jon Schofield is forging great deal more than the sum of our competing claims for the same turf! strong links with clubs and employing parts. In purely numerical terms, our new and well established talent - it online networks were more actively New areas of growth are always going continues the theme of us all being in engaged with than entire English to attract attention but I am particularly this together. network - with 10 times the membership heartened by the resurgence of strong base - and they are doing well - but you wild water racing. This does not happen COVID has really challenged many are doing something remarkable. by accident and I commend the work of sports, and I know many in paddling Fraser Gormal and Paul Anderson here have had their prospects curtailed this David Simpson, President which also shows an aspect of year, drastically and at times cruelly. succession planning that is a feature of There are some real challenges facing Scottish paddling across many the country and this organisation but I disciplines and clubs - former elite truly believe we are in a strong position athletes/top paddlers giving their time to meet these. I am humbled by the back to the sport at club and attitude and engagement of you all to international level. You can see that in continuing to work together, often many areas - particularly delighted to online, to maintain training, support, see the surfers competing out in Peru, giving advice, and interpreting the but also the slalom committee various guidelines from our Government. 4 SCA Annual Report: April 2019 - March 2020 From the Chair Writing an annual report is always an to all of these people for the as without it much of what we do would exercise in drawing an artificial line in contributions that they have made. not be possible. This is particularly true the sand which becomes more irrelevant The mix of experience and new for the period following the current year as time passes until the report is perspectives which now characterise the end where additional flexibility and published. Never has this been more board have provided for effective and support has been offered to help us true than this year. The world up to 31st proportionate oversight of the adapt to deal with the ongoing situation. March 2020 was a very different place operations as well as offering new from the one we have lived in since insights into how we can plan for the then. future. It looks likely that there will be no further changes in this regard at the However, it is worth reflecting on 2020 AGM but the process of refreshing 2019-20 as another year of steady the board membership will resume so progress against our objectives as an that it is completed over the next 3 year organisation, supported as always by cycle. In the meantime I would like to our very dedicated staff team and the thank all of the directors for their large number of volunteers without ongoing commitment to the best whom much of what we do would not interests of the SCA. be possible. The various sections of this report highlight their many achievements. My thanks, as always, go The ongoing investment and support from sportscotland is also appreciated 5 SCA Annual Report: April 2019 - March 2020 From the Chair In March 2020, the environment in always been popular amongst some organisationally and whilst it is clear which the SCA operates changed almost sections of our membership when that we will face financial and beyond recognition as it did for our various projects were mooted which organisational challenges we can go members and much of society. Since would have benefitted from investment forward with confidence that we will long before the SCA was incorporated in of some, or all of those reserves. We emerge ready and able to continue our May 2000, we have had a policy of now have ample evidence that this journey. maintaining a strong financial reserve to policy has always been the right one. ensure the organisation will be in a Brian Chapman, Chair position to continue operating in We reached the end of the 2019-20 year challenging times. This policy has not in a sound condition both financially and 6 SCA Annual Report: April 2019 - March 2020 From the CEO This Annual Report highlights further place - with good discussion and debate I would like to take this opportunity to progress and achievement within the about the priority areas for the future. thank everyone involved in organising four year Strategic Plan 2017-2021. This was a really positive time where we our sport and running the activities and Together we have continued to make were able to listen to other people’s events that are appreciated by so many. good progress against all the seven key perspectives about our sport and to Your contribution is more important than areas of the plan and paddlesport share our views and experiences. The ever as we work together to resume our activity in Scotland has continued to relationships and understanding that activities, post COVID, in a safe and grow. events like this have helped us to build responsible way. have put us in a strong position as we Just before the end of this financial year have transitioned to remote working and Stuart Smith, CEO the latest committee and board joint online meetings through the COVID networking and planning weekend took lockdown and beyond. 7 SCA Annual Report: April 2019 - March 2020 ”Personal Performance Awards represent a signiﬁcant opportunity for further growth and a ﬂexible framework for coaches, leaders and other paddlesport providers to utilise and offer progression recognition to paddlers” 8 SCA Annual Report: April 2019 - March 2020 Coaching & Education This was another year of positive for many including coaching, courses, further growth and a flexible framework developments in the world of coaching activities, trips and expeditions for coaches, leaders and other and leadership with the new Personal preparations by clubs, centres and paddlesport providers to utilise and offer Performance Awards and Paddlesport providers. SCA moved into a focus on progression recognition to paddlers. Instructor going live, followed by new supporting members through the period The appetite for Continuous Personal Stand Up Paddleboard Coach awards. We of lockdown including delivering many Development (CPD) by coaches and now have over 2000 qualified coaches activities online. The appetite for online leaders remains strong; through face to and leaders in SCA membership, learning, engagement and sharing was face practical and online activity. This collectively delivering an incredible incredible and it really shows the year had the highest number of distinct volume of safe, fun and progressive strength of the community. coaches and leaders engaging in CPD for activity to paddlers. The new Personal Performance Awards many years. (PPAs) are now being embedded in As the reporting year drew to a close the paddlesport activity in many areas. PPAs Andy Murray, Head of Coaching & Coronavirus pandemic halted the plans represent a significant

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