About Us
The CLA Community Interest Company
The CLA is run by Foundation Expedition Leadership (FEL) CIC, a group of three outdoor professionals who are highly experienced in DofE Expedition Supervision and Outdoor Education.
FEL is a Community Interest Company (CIC), which means it has declared itself as a not-for-profit organisation with an interest in the community. The CLA is the main way that we achieve this, although we also offer outdoor First Aid courses, technical advice, and support with DofE supervision and assessment.
More on our not-for-profit status
We have consulted widely among other Outdoor Education experts and DofE Operating Authorities to ensure that the CLA best fits its purpose.
Insurance
FEL CIC is insured by Activities Industry Mutual, to £5,000,000 public and products liability and £10,000,000 employers' liability. Please contact us if you would like more information.
Paul Bond, FRGS, OEAP Adviser, ML, SPA
Paul Bond is a Fellow of The Royal Geographical Society, Summer ML, and SPA and holds various other NGB Awards from the RYA, BOF etc.
He is a First Aid Trainer, he is the Outdoor Ed. Advisor and D of E Manager for Southwark Council and has over 30 years experience in both the voluntary and statutory sector.
He hopes for better weather for you than the photo!
Contact him at:
Colin Kirk, IML, SPA
Colin Kirk is an International Mountain Leader and Winter Mountain Leader Award holder.
In addition he has coaching qualifications in climbing, canoeing and orienteering as well as being a First aid Trainer.
Employed for ten years as Duke of Edinburgh's Award Manager for London Borough of Tower Hamlets but now working freelance in the outdoor industry.
Has over 30 years experience of training and leading groups on expeditions.
Website and contact:
www.ckexpeditionsandtraining.com
Other Advisers
Clive Atkins, MIA, IML, OEAP Adviser
Clive is an Outdoor Education Adviser to 14 local authorities and has over 30 years' teaching and advising experience.
He holds a wide range of NGB awards at technical adviser level, including IML & MIA.
Clive is also a Chartered Member of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, an Accredited Expert Witness, LOtC Quality Badge Assessor, and former Adventure Activities Licensing Service Inspector.
Rob Clark, Winter ML
Rob is a Winter ML holder and has over 15 years experience working in the Outdoor Education industry, with significant DofE leading experience. He was DofE Manager in London Borough of Richmond and Royal Borough of Kingston and went on to work for the DofE charity as Operations Manager in London Region.
Rob has climbed and led all over the World, with experience in the Italian, French and Swiss Alps, as well as trips to New Zealand, the American Cascades, the Himalayas and the Andes, though he still feels most at home in the (usually wet) UK mountains!
Rob currently freelances as an Outdoor Instructor, with a particular passion for training other people to lead groups, so that they can gain as much from doing so as he has.
Open discussion
At the project's inception we also ensured a detailed discussion with DofE Managers and Operations officers, to ensure we were creating an award that best fits its purpose.