Son is looking to move away after splitting with his girlfirend. He would like to work with children and involving outdoor type pursuits if poss. ideally a resientila post as travelling not practical. Any suggestios. He has no formal qualifications but is quite sporty etc

may be a bit late to apply but how about something like these summer camp/ adventure holiday places, he would have to be police checked for anything with kids and I don't know how long that may take. May be worth getting in touch with D of E scheme as they may point him in direction of courses he could do?

He has looked at some of those but seems like recruitment over for this year. :-(

My OH is a canoe/kayak instructor at an outdoor centre through our local education authority.

He has paddled from the age of 13 but found he had to take and pass all the relevent qualifications in the sport when he decided 2 years ago that he wanted to be a coach.

In our experience most outdoor places like PGL etc recruit earlier in the year and you have to be a certain level to be taken on.

Has he looked at one of the fast track courses where he can train and get qualified in 16 weeks. They are expensive.

www.manoractivitycentre.co.uk/outdoorinstructortraining.cfm
www.brenscombeoutdoor.co.uk

Thanks for that. Trouble is he needs to earn even at a minimum wage and could not afford that sort of cash. No easy solution I guess :-(

My best friend has worked at PGL for the past 5 years in the summer. The last 3 years in the south of france.
No qualifacations, there are all kinds of jobs out there. You could start off working in the kitchen or cleaning and end up on the water with the kids.
They happily train you if your a hard worker and are responsible and reliable.
Accomodation and food is free and they get a very small wage.

Look at scouts in the activity centres they offer bursaries you work for them 40% of the time you train foc 60% (recognised courses certificated), of the time its residential and they pay you £50 a week pocket money. Bursaries start September each year. Find you local county centre and apply.

Could he not get a normal 9-5 job to get the money coming in and then work towards his kayaking and other qualifications? I know there is a local group round my way that do many outdoor activities and you can work towards climbing qualificiations and if you want to get to instructor level they will assist in paying half of the course if it will benefit the club..
What area does your son live in, we maybe able to help if he lives near any of us. I've got some good contacts here in the south east.

He has a job in a factory but hates it. Trouble is its full time nights. he works at a Paintball centre at weekends. We are in Shropshire.