Who we are
Tracy Grant
DofE Manager
I have a strong belief in the DofE Award, and have seen the benefits from participation first hand in my own 3 children. I have been involved as the DofE leader for the Centre since Sept 1996….. I was asked if I would be interested in running the group with 8 participants. We now have around 100 participants every year at all 3 DofE Award levels.
I come from a background of teaching(secondary science and years 3-6 primary) and youth work. I have always had a strong interest in the outdoors and the benefits that being outside and working as a team in challenging circumstances has on young people. It builds their confidence and self-esteem, enhances their risk management and eases their transition into adulthood.
Qualifications
QTS since 1989
Qualified Youth worker since 1989
Mountain Leadership Award(Summer)
32 Hour remote Wilderness first aid certificate
Winter intro to Mountain leadership skills
Climbing Single Pitch Award.
Alpine Ski Leader
MIAS level 1 and 2 cycling leader
Sailing Level 1 and 2
Paddlesport leader
Bushcraft leader
Martin Brown
Volunteer and Chair of trustees
A retired Secondary School teacher from Cambridge, I have over forty years of experience of helping young people develop their walking, mountaineering and expedition skills in both the UK and abroad. I am a qualified Mountain Leader (Summer) and a D of E Assessor at Gold, Silver and Bronze levels of the Award.
Jonathan Tole
Volunteer and Trustee
I have been involved with DofE since 2016. I was attracted to DofE as I wanted to help make a difference to young peoples futures by supporting them attributes such as resilience, grit, community and commitment.
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DofE provided a great opportunity to combine my love of the outdoors and a passion to help others succeed.
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Qualifications
NNAS Tutor
Outdoor first aid
DofE Expedition Assessor - Bronze / Silver / Gold
Countryside Leader Award
MiDaS Minibus Awareness Scheme
Undertaking Hill and Moorland Leader qualification
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Ted Weber
Volunteer
A retired RAF officer now working in wildlife conservation, I have over fifty years of active participation in outdoor activities, particularly mountaineering and walking in the UK and on expeditions abroad. I have been a volunteer leader for the DofE for over ten years and am a strong believer in the value of outdoor experiences in the personal and social development of young people.
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Qualifications
Mountain Leader (Summer)
Bushcraft, Survival and Wilderness Living Skills Instructor
Outdoor Emergency First Aid
DofE Assessor at Gold, Silver and Bronze levels of the Award
MiDaS Minibus Awareness Scheme
Leanne Bartlett
Volunteer
I have been teaching in secondary schools since 2003 and volunteering with the DofE in St Ives since 2017. I have a passion for nature and a strong belief in the importance that outdoor pursuits have in the development of self confidence and resilience.
Qualifications
QTS
Outdoor first aid
Countryside Leader Award
DofE Expedition Assessor - Bronze and Silver
Lesley Maxwell
Volunteer
I've been volunteering with the St Ives DofE Group for over 10 years assisting with Training and Expeditions. I'm also Brigade DofE Advisor for North Wales with the Army Cadet Force.
I've Assessed for numerous teams over the years at all levels in the UK and abroad meeting some fantastic young people along the way as well as making some great friends.
Qualifications:
Assessor: Gold/Silver/Bronze
DofE Verifier
NNAS Tutor/Director
ML(Summer)
First Aid Trainer
Currently working towards Winter ML
Claire Hunter
Trustee and Volunteer
I was initially involved in DofE as a participant completing the awards in an Open Award Centre in Lincolnshire. I then volunteered at and eventually ended up running an Open Award Centre in South Gloucestershire in the late 1990s, which involved me as an assessor for a Gold Residential and Expedition in Canada. I then moved to London and overseas and so that limited my DofE volunteering. In the last 2 years, I have recently returned to supporting DofE as a volunteer and assessor.
My day job is focused on learning and development with an emphasis on leadership development and coaching.
DofE enables me to combine my love for the hills/mountains with my passion for development. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing young people develop self-belief and achieve something they didn't believe they could.
Qualifications:
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DofE Expedition Assessor - Bronze / Silver / Gold
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NNAS Tutor
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Outdoor first aid Qualification
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Hill and Moorland Leader
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Mountain Leader (summer) trainee
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RYA Competent Crew & Day Skipper
Lloyd Lester
Volunteer
I joined the Cambridgeshire Outdoor Centres leaders team for the 2023 season as an expedition Leader/Assessor.
I Have been working in the telecommunications industry most of this life as well as becoming a radio relay operator in the Army Reserves.
I have a keen passion for walking across Hill and moorland areas, especially at night, and also love to climb both indoors and outdoors.
I went on to volunteer in the Army Cadet Force (ACF) as a Company DofE Officer coordinating, leading, organising staff and young people in all aspects of the DofE program. I have extensive working knowledge of the DofE Framework from Bronze through to Gold level.
I have experience working with disadvantaged and special needs children, helping them achieve their DofE awards at all levels and have an absolute passion for the outdoors and love to inspire young people to push themselves out of their comfort zones and become the best they can be.
During my time with the ACF, the team I led won the Quaich Trophy for the best DofE program in the ACF, and I was awarded the commandant’s coin for my commitment to the DofE Program.
Qualifications:
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MTA Hill and Moorland Leader
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MTA Camping Leader
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NNAS Gold Navigation award
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NNAS Navigation Tutor Award
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CWI Climbing wall Instructor
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Full FAW & Tourniquet 1st aid qualification
Full DofE Leadership Award -
DofE Supervisor award
DofE Verifier award -
DofE Assessor for every level of the Award.
CVQO Level 3 in Leadership & Management