Philip Clegg, Managing Director

Philip has backgrounds in environmental management, sustainable development and outdoor training and has held roles including a charity chairman, a national advisor on running outdoor programmes and in consultancy. He has been involved with DofE, in a voluntary and professional capacity, for almost 25 years. He has a passion for navigation training and hill skills and he just about manages to juggle the competing demands of heading up a successful company and spending enough time in the outdoors!

Philip enjoys hill and mountain walking, canoeing and riding his cyclo-cross bike.  He is also a reluctant runner, mediocre guitar player and prefers books to computers.

 

Sarah Davis, Director

Sarah takes a keen interest in the outdoors and enjoys exploring the countryside by foot, bike or canoe; she has a love of plants and foraging and encourages others to value their local environment. She has backgrounds in outdoor education and conservation, environmental health and DofE, as well as also being a qualified Life Coach.  In addition to her office-based roles you may come across Sarah on some of our DofE expeditions, bushcraft courses and taking a lead in our eco-therapy work.

Sarah masquerades as an artist, is a frustrated pianist but makes rather good Welsh cakes.

 

 

Sam Hayward, Senior Outdoor Practitioner

Sam’s background is in outdoor education and adventurous activities; however he has also been employed in residential care with young people with challenging behaviours. Sam has worked and trained across England, Scotland and Wales, as well as over a year leading journey based expeditions in Australia. He holds many outdoor qualifications, loves to sit around a campfire, and is also reasonably handy with a map and compass. He also enjoys a diverse range of additional activities such as canoeing, climbing, caving, mountain biking and hiking.

Sam did a brief stint managing the Wilderness Project’s day-to-day operations…. before remembering how much he doesn’t like computers! He once again spends most of his time on the ground with DofE, and you’ll likely meet him on most of our bushcraft and First Aid courses. On the rare occasions when things get too stressful he will engage in a little techno-therapy and retreat to his Xbox!

 

Nicky Hedgecock, Operations Manager (DofE)

Nicky loves being outdoors, whether it be hiking, practising bushcraft, paddling or just gardening. For the last couple of decades she has been busy running DofE expeditions, leading overseas trips on 5 continents around the world and running bushcraft courses, forest schools and youth groups. Her career has given her the opportunity to work with a wide variety of clients ranging from adults with learning difficulties to primary school special needs groups, as well as mainstream and PRU units.

Nicky primarily spends her time running our DofE operations but she is fab at bushcraft and can often be found instructing on one of our bushcraft events. For relaxation she loves to whittle, crochet and run (jog!).

 

 

Jamie Evans, Assistant Operations Manager (DofE)

Originally from North Wales Jamie has recently returned to his native land after 20 years away following a decade in the corporate world and holding posts including a local authority DofE Operations Officer and a DofE Co-ordinator for 2 schools.

Adventure has always been a big part of his life, having bike-packed in the Pyrenees at 17, walked to Everest Base camp and led expeditions and cycling trips throughout the UK, Europe and further afield.

Over the years Jamie has participated in triathlons, adventure racing, SUP, kayaking, climbing, roller skating, kite buggying, snowboarding plus various other sports. He also enjoys mountain biking, music, rugby, football, painting and most of all, spending time with his family whether it is walking the dog or simply watching a film. He considers himself a jack of all trades, master of none!

 

Mark Hedgecock, Outdoor Practitioner

Mark grew up in an outdoor family and has continued in that vein, with a variety of outdoor qualifications enabling years of work with primary and senior schools, PRUs, special needs schools, youth groups and adults from many walks of life.

Alongside leading school expeditions abroad he has also taken his own kids on some far (and near) flung walking trips.  

While riding his bike and running Mark dreams about being the botanist who coincidentally climbs the first summit of a mountain while discovering a new alpine flower.

 

 

Emily Clegg, Marketing Assistant

Emily is a travel enthusiast and loves discovering exciting new outdoor locations.  Being passionate about the natural environment and human rights, she aspires to build a career as an International Aid worker, and combines her marketing work with studying towards an International Studies degree.

Emily has interests in music and photography and spends a little too much of her life watching Marvel movies.

 

 

 

Rachael Beckingham, Admin and Outdoor Equipment Assistant

Rachael spends as much time as possible on top of hills; usually with dogs or children or both. She loves maps, exploring new places, traveling with her family in their van and sharing her off-road adventures with Instagram. When she isn’t outside Rachael enjoys sitting under blankets sipping herbal teas with her dogs snuggled up next to her. She has a background in primary teaching, in the UK and internationally, and has brought her strange love of spreadsheets to our office.

 

 

 

Michael Field, Business Manager

Michael has built a career in account management and business development, but his passion lies in the outdoors and he enjoys most things that involve fresh air. Michael has been involved in the delivery of DofE for over 15 years and through that time has developed an unhealthy obsession with kit!

Michael spends a bit too much time in front of a computer, mostly counting down to his next hike, bike or outdoor adventure.

 

 

 

BUSHCRAFT

Connect with the natural world as you build a fire, create shelters, carve wooden tools, forage for wild food, cook in the open and more, whilst enjoying the beautiful tranquility of mid Wales.

NAVIGATION & HILL SKILLS

These courses will develop your confidence and expertise to safely enjoy walking in the hills and mountains of the UK. Choose from Basic, Intermediate or Advanced levels.

OUTDOOR FIRST AID

Perfect for those working and playing in remote places, this 2-day course encompasses a mixture of theory and practical sessions along with scenarios taking place outdoors.

Enquire About A Course

Form

TESTIMONIALS

"My daughter absolutely LOVED the Creative Crafts course, thank you! She particularly liked the fact that you taught and trusted them to use tools properly, and I loved the fact that all of the activities were so unique, and nothing she'd have done anywhere else.

She also mentioned that she thought Nicky, the instructor, was great.

It was obviously brilliantly organised, and she will definitely be signing up to future courses!"

TESTIMONIALS

"Many thanks for organising the Creative Crafts course - my daughter really enjoyed it, particularly whittling/carving the wooden mushroom keyrings!

Many thanks, it was a super activity for the girls to do and all be together again."

TESTIMONIALS

 "My daughter absolutely loved it! She thought the instructor was excellent and gave very clear instructions. She really enjoyed making the mushroom and basket making in particular and just thoroughly enjoyed everything. 

Thank you so much for organising it, we give it 5/5 definitely."

TESTIMONIALS

 "Nicky was fantastic – extremely knowledgeable, warm, friendly and patient!  Nicky role models perfect behaviour"

TESTIMONIALS

 "All aims were met and exceeded by Nicky who was an amazing host!"

TESTIMONIALS

 "The course was excellent, pace was amazing.  I learnt so much more than I thought I would.  Highly recommend the course.  Instructors were knowledgeable and amazing"

TESTIMONIALS

 "Great and knowledgeable instructors, nice venue.  All the activities explained and performed in a safe way"

TESTIMONIALS

 "It was an absolute pleasure to be here.  The instructors were perfect, safe and friendly"

TESTIMONIALS

 "All I can say is that it was AMAZING!!!  Everyone was nice and friendly and kind.  Very safe and lots more"

TESTIMONIALS

 "Instructors were very informative and patient.  Learnt a lot in a very short space of time"

TESTIMONIALS

 "Nicky and Sam were amazing!  Very informative and supportive.  Loved all the elements of the course.  Thank you"

TESTIMONIALS

 "Loved the flexibility Sam had with the group so although there was a plan we were able to progress more in specific areas that interested us.  Also liked the way other participants were able to add their expertise"

TESTIMONIALS

 "Loved the flexibility Sam had with the group so although there was a plan we were able to progress more in specific areas that interested us.  Also liked the way other participants were able to add their expertise"

TESTIMONIALS

 "Enjoyed both the content and the delivery of the course and the location"

TESTIMONIALS

 "(Aims met) very well.  Learnt a huge amount and how to deliver courses"

TESTIMONIALS

 "The instructors were fantastic.  Course was relaxed and I felt completely comfortable.  Venue was great.  Thanks for all the tea."

TESTIMONIALS

 "Fantastic course, really enjoyed myself.  Staff were super friendly and group dynamic was awesome.  Well led activities"

TESTIMONIALS

 "Good pace.  Well knowledgeable instructors.  Lots of new ideas"

TESTIMONIALS

 "Amazing instructors.  Positive approach.  Really knowledgeable"

TESTIMONIALS

 "Instructors very engaging and knowledgeable.  Instructors make sure they give everyone time to learn.  No improvements needed that I can think of"

TESTIMONIALS

 "Skills and instruction were excellent"

TESTIMONIALS

 "Positives – teachers/directors, quality of site, drinks, food, instruction, warm welcoming, supportive, safe and pragmatic.  No complaints.  I was worried it may be a bit macho but couldn’t have been more wrong"

TESTIMONIALS

 "I enjoyed the course so much – wish it was longer"

TESTIMONIALS

 "All courses were set up and explained very well."

TESTIMONIALS

 "The venue was superb.  I am honestly unsure how the course could have been improved.  Thank you."

TESTIMONIALS

 “Really knowledgeable and helpful staff who gave really good safety briefings but who were incredibly flexible with the groups needs and interests.” 

TESTIMONIALS

"The course was extremely well set up with lots of helpful learning activities." 

TESTIMONIALS

"Very well organised, fantastic amounts of information with practical demonstrations." 

TESTIMONIALS

“All safety measures in place. Excellent tutors and Course Director. Venue excellent and pupils taken through all safety procedures with walking activities to cooking.”

TESTIMONIALS

“This is the best first aid course I have been on.  The teaching methods in combination with a comprehensive syllabus helped to achieve this.  Robin is a highly skilled trainer.  Thanks!” 

TESTIMONIALS

“All safety measures in place. Excellent tutors and Course Director. Venue excellent and pupils taken through all safety procedures with walking activities to cooking.” 

TESTIMONIALS

"The instructor was very friendly and explained things in a way I could understand. Safety was always first.  Venue was excellent." 

TESTIMONIALS

“I attended an invaluable, well-structured, comprehensive, supportive and enjoyable Advanced Hill Skills course. This small-group course was tailored to meet my individual needs, namely to improve specific Mountain Leader skills prior to putting myself forward for assessment. After the course I was then able to pass my Mountain Leader Assessment with confidence.”