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EPIC Badlands 2017
Explorer Information Pack Staff and young people aged 16-21 from EPIC Services
Contents
The Expedition programme: What, Why & Who? 2
2017 Dates 3
Phase 1: UK Training Programme 4
Phase 2: The Expedition, Spanish Badlands 5
Understanding Spain and the Spanish Badlands 7
Focus On The Future 8
The Leadership Team 9
The British Exploring Code of Ethics and Good Conduct 10
What’s included 11
Expedition Kit 12
Preparing for Departure 14
What Happens Next? 14
Safety & Support: Expedition Safety Summary 15
Accessibility 18
Insurance Policy Summary 18
Acceptance Terms and Conditions 19
For more information contact
Zygmunt Dreja – Senior Youth Worker, Outdoor Education
020 7349 9591
2
The Expedition Programme
What
EPIC Badlands 2017 is the first dedicated youth development expedition delivered as part of British Exploring
and Epic CIC’s partnership working. For the past 7 years, the British Exploring Society has worked with youth
organisations to provide opportunities for personal development for young people from across the UK.
British Exploring has worked with organisations and schools delivering challenging expeditions which have
included hiking the Norwegian mountains and sailing the North Sea, trekking across the Sinai and Namib
Deserts, exploring the volcanic moonscape of north-east Iceland and scrambling up ridges in Transylvania.
This year, British Exploring and Epic CIC, will be working together to discover the extraordinary desert
landscape of the Spanish Badlands.
The expedition programme incorporates a series of residential training events in the UK followed by a
challenging and remote overseas expedition. On return to the UK, Explorers are encouraged to reflect on the
skills they have developed during the programme so far and to think about how they might use these skills
to pursue their future ambitions.
Why
We create unique expeditions that aim to provide opportunities to young people from a variety of youth
services, to challenge and transform expectations of future lives. Epic Badlands aims to develop self-
esteem, leadership, communication and team working skills and to help young people to apply those
skills in ongoing employment, education or training.
Who
British Exploring – The British Exploring Society is a unique youth development
charity which uses expeditions as a vehicle to advance the education of young
people by developing their confidence, teamwork, leadership and spirit of adventure
and exploration. Since it was formed in 1932, the Society has run countless
expeditions to remote regions across the world including jungles, deserts, mountains
and the arctic.
Epic CIC - Established in January 2014, Epic CIC deliver a comprehensive range of
youth support services to children and young people up to the age of 19 and 25, to
encourage potential, inspire change and making a positive difference to
communities.
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Who can apply?
You must be aged between 16 and 21 years old.
The most important thing we look for from our Explorers is commitment; you must show an initial
interest, and be prepared to commit to the training and expedition from the start.
When selecting participants, British Exploring and Epic CIC will look for those who are enthusiastic and keen
to learn, and those who we feel will benefit most from the overall experience. As an Explorer you should: have
a desire to improve confidence and self-belief, want to learn new skills and improve future prospects, have an
ambition to see a part of the world or take part in a new adventure. You don’t need any previous experience
in the outdoors.
Whilst British Exploring and EPIC aims to offer a programme which is as inclusive as possible, taking
part in a challenging overseas expedition is a difficult experience. It is important that you and your
Epic Workers appreciate that the UK training programme is also an opportunity for us to assess how
you may cope under these pressures.
The Programme will not invite anyone to take part in the overseas expedition phase if their
participation presents a risk to their physical or psychological health, the health of others or the
success of the programme as a youth development initiative.
2017 Dates
● Explorer Induction Weekend 21st – 23rd April
TBC
● Explorer Training Week 29th May – 3rd June
Dartmoor National Park
● Overseas Expedition 24th – 14th August
Gorafe – Spanish Badlands
● Focus on the Future Day TBC September
4
Phase 1: UK Training Programme
Induction Weekend You will be invited to a weekend of activities where you will meet your team and your leaders, get to know
more about the programme and learn the principles of camp craft and outdoor leadership. Activities will
include: icebreakers, team building exercises, camp craft, map reading and orienteering challenges.
Expedition Training You will travel to the wilds of Dartmoor, where you will build on your existing outdoors skills and attend
briefings designed to prepare you for life on expedition. This will include first aid training, kit and equipment
packing, safety procedures and you will take part in your first overnight expedition. You will wild camp for 2
nights and will have to carry your equipment and food for three days of exploring!
Transport, Accommodation and Facilities
Transport from London will be organised to help you get to both training events. We may ask your Epic
Worker to help you with your travel arrangements. You will be provided with details of meeting places, dates
and times, at least 2 weeks before your training event. Throughout the training phase, you will camp in
designated camp sites with tents provided by the programme. You will also be provided with a roll mat,
sleeping bag and several camp stoves for your team. The camp sites vary in terms of facilities but all have
access to running water and washing facilities and they may also have indoor common areas for activities.
The only exception to this will be the overnight expedition where groups will “wild camp” with no facilities.
Whilst the UK training programme will offer valuable opportunities for personal development, it will
also be used as an opportunity to prepare you for the expedition phase and to select those young
people who will be joining the expedition. It is expected that the UK training will start with
approximately 24 Explorers, with 12 being invited to join the expedition.
5
Phase 2: The Expedition, Badlands of Gorafe
By accepting the challenge of joining the Epic Badlands Expedition, you
have the opportunity to discover one of the most unique landscapes in
the world!
Travel: Your flight from London to Spain will take approximately 2 hour
50 mins where you will then take a vehicle transfer into the Badlands.
A typical day on expedition in the Spanish Badlands:
Surrounded by cliff faces with cave dwellings dating back 800 years, you
will trek across a landscape of spectacular ridges, gullies, gorges and
cliffs, dotted with evidence of humans dating back over 30,000 years!
You will spend your morning hiking through the Badlands, before the
midday sun provides an afternoon break and a chance to reflect on your
expedition so far. Back on your feet in the late afternoon, you might be
lucky enough to spot crystals of gypsum in the rock or falcons roaming
the desert skies in search of prey. Reaching your camping spot for the
night, you will search for firewood to build a campfire and settle down for dinner with your team. As the
embers of the fire die out you, will take a glimpse of stunning night skies before you climb into your sleeping
bag and doze off thinking of the adventure that lies ahead.
Over the three weeks, you will set out in your team from Base Camp to explore the area on foot. Camping
out in the wild, your teams will trek through the colourful desert landscapes reaching caches of water and
food, to resupply.
Accommodation, Food and Facilities Throughout your time in the Spanish Badlands, your team will be ‘wild’ camping, both at Base Camp and
during the adventure phases. You will be digging pit toilets and collecting water for drinking and cooking
from caches which have been dropped there previously by your leadership team. There will not be access to
showers throughout the expedition, so plenty of wet wipes will be essential! You will receive plenty of
support and guidance on life on expedition.
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During most days of the expedition, you will be required to carry at least one day’s supply of drinking water
alongside camping equipment, depending on what sources are available on the route. In the badlands, it is
always important to stay hydrated.
Food will be prepared on camping stoves; the majority of meals will consist of expedition rations, with snacks
during the day. Living on rations can take a bit of getting used to but you will soon find yourself looking
forward to your meal at the end of a long days walking.
There will be no access to electricity whilst on expedition– you will not be able to charge any electrical
devices.
Contacting Home
Throughout the majority of the expedition, there will be little or no reception on mobile phones. You are
advised not to bring your mobile phone with you and you should not expect to be able to contact home at
any point during the expedition except in emergencies. In the case of an emergency at home, friends and
family should be advised to contact a designated representative at Epic CIC who will be able to make contact
with the expedition team. Details for contacting this representative will be issued with joining instructions in
the weeks running up to your departure from the UK.
7
Understanding Spain and the Spanish Badlands
Spain is the largest country in southern Europe. Humans arrived in Spain approximately 35000 years ago, and
now there are over 500 million Spanish speakers in the world.
Spain was once made up of many kingdoms, these
kingdoms came together to create one country and the
Kingdoms became regions of modern Spain. On your
expedition to the Spanish Badlands, you will visit the region
of Andalusia.
In 200 BC, Spain was ruled by the Roman Empire, and you
can still see the roman influences today. On the Andalusian
flag, you will find the regions’ coat of arms, depicting
Hercules, the Roman hero and son of Zeus.
Climate
Andalusia’s climate differs vastly throughout the region,
however in general, the climate experiences hot
Mediterranean summers, Andalusia’s interior is the hottest
area of Europe. In July the average highest daily temperature
is 34 degrees Celsius with hotter days reaching 38 degrees
and less than 3mm rain in the entire month.
What are Badlands?
Badlands are a type of land surface which are made of soft
rock, clay and soils. They have been extensively eroded by
strong wind and water to create steep slopes, canyons,
ravines and gullies. Badlands are often beautiful and diverse
in colour, layers of rock alternate between stark black and blues to bright reds and oranges.
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Local people and culture
Andalusia has a rich culture and a strong cultural identity in Spain; Flamenco dancers, bull fighting and
famous Spanish architectural styles are all said to originate in the region.
The expedition will take place in the Spanish Badlands, located in the depression of Gorafe. Gorafe is a small
town with approximately 474 inhabitants. Although only very small, this remote village is surrounded by
artefacts from ancient history. The area has been occupied since the stone age, between 30,000 and 50,000
years ago, by early humans. Tribes or clans of small groups of friends or families lived together and would
gather plants and fire wood and hunt and scavenge for food.
6,000 years ago, the Badlands were inhabited by people who built their culture around farming, these people
dug houses into the hillsides and built dolmens or tombs where the Neolithic people buried those who had
passed away. There are 240 dolmens scattered across the Badlands of Gorafe which you might be able to
spot whilst you explore the area.
Phase 3: Focus on the Future
You will be invited to attend the final phase of your expedition journey which will take place in London (location
TBC) approximately 1 month after your return from expedition. Focus on the Future is a chance for you and
your Leaders to reunite after expedition, to reflect on the lessons you learned during your time on the
programme, share stories with friends and understand how your expedition skills can help you in your future.
Feedback
When you have completed your expedition, we will ask for feedback from you in the form of a survey. We will
ask for your feedback on all aspects of your Journey, what you enjoyed and what you think we could do to
improve our expeditions in the future. If you have any questions or feedback throughout the course of your
journey with us please don’t hesitate to contact your expeditions coordinator.
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The Leadership Team
At the heart of all British Exploring expeditions is a skilled team of expedition leaders, instructors, career
expeditioners, medics and youth workers. The Society benefits from some of the most highly skilled staff in
the sector and The Epic Badlands Expedition will be no different. The Leadership team for the Badlands will
include both male and female staff.
Team Structure
On expedition, a team of 12 Explorers will be accompanied by 4 leaders:
The Central Leader Team
Chief Leader
The Chief Leader will be an experienced Explorer. They will have completed and lead on a number of
expeditions in desert environments and worked with young people in the outdoors. The Chief Leader will
oversee the entire programme throughout the UK training and expedition. They will be responsible for the
itinerary of the programme and will supervise the rest of the leadership team. In the case of an incident or
emergency during the expedition, the Chief Leader, or in his/her absence the Adventure Leader, will assume
the position of incident controller.
Doctor:
There will be a qualified medical doctor with experience in expedition medicine, accompanying the
programme. They will spend their time out in the field, providing medical advice, support and treatment
where necessary
The Group Leaders
Adventure Leader:
The Adventure Leader will be responsible for the safe delivery of all adventurous activities within their
groups. They will be skilled outdoors instructors or expedition leaders with experience of delivering outdoors
activities for young people and working on youth development programmes.
Social Leader:
The Social Leaders will be responsible for assisting in the delivery of youth development activities within each
group and will offer support and guidance for Explorers throughout the programme. They will be qualified
Youth Workers who may be employed by Epic CIC in the UK and work in their existing youth services.
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The British Exploring Code of Ethics and Good Conduct
This Code of Ethics and Good Conduct forms part of our terms and conditions and our contract with every
Explorer and Leader on every British Exploring expedition. British Exploring reserves the right to remove an
Explorer or Leader from an expedition for a significant breach of this Code. Such judgement rests with
Expedition Chief Leadership and British Exploring Head Office.
A British Exploring expedition is a team effort. Before starting on an expedition with us every expedition
member is asked to think carefully about the positive or negative impact of their behaviour and decisions on
others.
British Exploring asks you to agree to the following:
● You understand that you will support others in applying this code, as well as keeping to it yourself.
● You will respect the worth, contribution and opinions of everyone on expedition at all times -
through what you do, and through what you say.
● You commit to making the expedition experience enjoyable and rewarding for everyone.
● You agree to fully participate as far as you are able in all adventure, learning and personal
development opportunities with British Exploring before, during and after your expedition.
● You will make reasonable efforts to provide support for others who need it on expedition.
● You will ask for help yourself when you need it.
● You will follow all Expedition rules, including those which you agree during the course of your
Expedition.
● You will respect and accept the decisions of Leaders and carry out their reasonable requests.
● You will be willing, enthusiastic and help others carrying out tasks needed for a successful expedition,
before and during the expedition.
● You will respect the customs and practices of people and communities that you meet with British
Exploring.
● You will be careful to avoid actions which lead to any form of pollution and closely follow instruction
to minimise negative environmental impact.
● You will be trustworthy.
● You will consider the safety and welfare of others and avoid reckless activities that put yourself or
others at risk.
● You will not use violent language or physical violence.
● You will avoid all illegal activities and substances.
● You will not drink alcohol.
● You will immediately avoid, if asked, any substance or behaviour which Leaders believe is harming
your ability to take part in the expedition.
● You agree not to have any exclusive or sexual relationships on expedition.
‘Time Off’
There will be times during both the training programme and the expedition when you are able to take some
time to yourself to read a book, write a diary or just reflect on the day. This might be during the evenings or a
midday break on expedition. You will be instructed by your Leaders when personal time will be permitted. It
is important to remember that your conduct during these times is just as important to the team and the
success of the programme as your conduct during the day. You will be supervised throughout your time off
so the card policy still applies.
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What’s Included
Explorers on the Epic Expedition will benefit from the following:
The Training Package: - Accommodation (tents)
- Food; Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
- Transport from a specified central London meeting point
- Supervision from a qualified leadership team including Adventure Leaders, Social Leaders and a Doctor
- Loan of equipment necessary for the completion of activities including tents, cooking equipment,
sleeping bags, compasses and navigation equipment and safety equipment as necessary
- Loan of Waterproof Clothing at the Induction Weekend
- Loan of Waterproof Clothing, walking boots and a rucksack will be given to Explorers for the expedition
training in Dartmoor
The Expedition: - Flights
- Insurance
- Accommodation (tents)
- Food; Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
- Transport in Spain necessary for the completion of the expedition itinerary
- Supervision from a qualified leadership team including Adventure Leaders, Social Leaders and Doctors
- Provision of a full training programme including expedition safety, first aid and navigation (to take
place prior to departure and once in country)
- Use of all equipment necessary for the completion of the expedition including sleeping mats, tents,
cooking equipment, sleeping bags, compasses and navigation equipment and safety equipment as
necessary
- Loan of Waterproof Clothing, walking boots and a rucksack, given to Explorers in Dartmoor
What is not provided: - Costs relating to application for or renewal of passports
- In most cases, Explorers will be expected to make their own way to designated meeting points at the
start of each training event. The costs associated with travel to meeting points will not be covered by
the programme
- Transport to the airport on the day of departure from the UK
- Spending money – It should be noted that since most of the expedition is spent in remote locations,
there will be little opportunity to spend money, however Explorers should be aware that on the few
occasions they may have access to local shops, any purchases made will be at their own expense
Epic can provide support in the above areas on request and interested candidates should not be
discouraged from applying if any of the costs above appear unamanageabe. For further details, please
contact Zygmunt Dreja on [email protected].
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What you need to bring
During the training programme and expedition, British Exploring/ Epic will provide you with:
Equipment:
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Roll mat
- Camping stove and cooking equipment
- Rucksack (Dartmoor and Spain Only)
Clothing
- Waterproof Jacket
- Waterproof Trousers
- Walking boots (Dartmoor and Spain Only)
- Fleece (Dartmoor and Spain Only)
Equipment will be handed out by the leadership team at the beginning of each training event and will be
collected back in at the end of each training event. You will be asked to sign for each item that you borrow
and will be asked to pay for any items not returned at the end.
For those Explorers who are invited to join the final expedition, you will be given equipment during the final
UK training event and will not have to return it until after the expedition. This will mean you can pack your
bag for the expedition and should give you some idea of how much it will weigh when you are hiking. It will
also give you a chance to wear in your boots before the expedition departs in July.
The list below details everything you will need to bring on the expedition in addition to the items above
which are provided. A separate kit list will be sent in advance of each training event and the expedition
detailing which items will be needed but in most cases this list will be made up of items included below.
During the Expedition, you will need to bring:
Clothes
- Underwear x 7
- Thermal base layers (For the UK training, especially if you get cold at night. If you don’t have thermals,
leggings and an extra long-sleeved top will do)
- Lightweight long sleeved shirt x 2
- Trousers for walking in x 2
- Warm jumper / fleece
- Wide brimmed sun hat – very important!
- Warm hat and gloves
- Something to sleep in
- Sunglasses
- Walking socks
- Cotton Shorts
- Cotton t-shirt
- Belt
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Toiletries
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Hairbrush
- Wet wipes
- Deodorant
- Sun cream x 2 bottles (minimum factor 30)
- (For Girls) sanitary products
- Contact lenses and solution if applicable and a pair of glasses as a back up
- Hand sanitiser
- Biodegradable Soap
Camping Equipment
- A mess tin, Tupperware container or plastic bowl to eat from
- A plastic or tin cup with a handle for hot drinks
- Spork or combined camping cutlery set
- Torch or head torch
- Water bottle or camelback / platypus or similar (you will need to be able to carry at least 3 or 4 litres
of water at any one time)
Medical Supplies
- Small pack of pain killers (eg paracetemol, aspirin or ibuprofen)
- Selection of plasters
- Blister plasters – bring plenty
- Zinc Oxide tape – this helps prevent blisters
- Antiseptic ointment (Savlon or similar)
- Lip balm and moisturiser
- Vaseline
- Any regular or prescription medication you are taking
General
- Passport – apply for this as soon as possible!
- European Health Insurance Card
- Camera and film / spare camera batteries if applicable
- A book to read during personal time
- Pack of playing cards
- A small towel or travel towel
- A travel alarm clock or digital watch with an alarm – a watch is highly recommended
- A pen and notebook / diary
- Plastic bags to keep kit separate inside your rucksack and to use for waste disposal
- A waterproof rucksack liner or heavy duty garden rubble sack/bin bag to keep your kit dry
- A roll of toilet tissue
- Sandwich bags
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Preparing for departure
Vaccinations: According to the NHS fit for travel website, no special vaccinations are required for Spain, except making
sure those recommended for life in Britain are up to date, including Tetanus. Please note it is each
participant’s responsibility to ensure their vaccinations are up to date. For more information, please visit
http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home.aspx.
Passports: British passport holders do not require any visa documents to visit Spain. Passports must be valid for the
duration of your intended stay in Spain.
If you hold a passport of another nationality, please contact the British Exploring office as soon as
possible to discuss visa arrangements.
You will be asked to send a photocopy of your passport to the British Exploring office prior to your departure
from the UK.
All Explorers must have a full valid passport by the beginning of the training week or they will not be
able to take part. Each year a number of Explorers miss out on the expedition and the opportunity of
a lifetime because their passport hasn’t arrived in time. Please start your application/renewal NOW to
ensure you are ready to go, if you are selected for the Spain team.
What Happens Next – How to Apply
If you are happy with all of the information in this document and would like to take on the challenge of The
Epic Badlands Expedition, please talk to a member of Epic CIC staff who will be able to tell you how to get
involved. At the initial stage you will need to complete a paper or online application on the British Exploring
website and your Epic Worker will write a referral for you.
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Summary Incident and Emergency Plan:
Purpose: This document is designed to give you some general advice on the type and
nature of the risks associated with your expedition destination. It will also cover some
of the safety measures that we enact to endeavour to keep all participants safe.
This document only highlights the main risks, and has been compiled after undertaking a full risk
assessment of the expedition, reconnaissance visits and past knowledge of the expedition environment.
Expeditions by their nature are risky and whilst some of these risks are avoidable, it is important that
all participants are aware of the major ones.
As part of our Integrated Safety Management System we will, closer to the departure, send you a copy
of the final risk assessment. Participants undergo comprehensive training and full briefings as to the
safety measures that are carried out both in the UK and during the training and acclimatisation phase
of the expedition. It is important that you read this document and, if you have any queries please do
not hesitate to contact us.
British Exploring is BS8848 compliant. BS8848 is the British Standard for safety in adventurous activities.
For more information, please see the BS8848 guide available on our Safety and Support page on our
website.
It is important that you read this document prior to signing any forms, if you have any queries please
do not hesitate to contact us.
Transport
There is always a risk of incidents occurring while using various forms of transport. British Exploring will
contract with a reputable Third Party provider to ensure that all vehicles and drivers meet the highest
standards. The company will undergo a third-party provider check and leaders will reconfirm this and the
suitability of the vehicles prior to using them or their drivers, once they have arrived in Spain.
Participants will be briefed on behaviour on vehicles as well as moving around in towns where driving
standards and road priorities may be different than in the UK.
Heat illness
The Spanish Badlands has a hot and arid climate, with extremely low precipitation, low humidity, high sun
exposure and desiccating winds. The expedition will take place in the summer, to minimise risk factors the
expedition team will take part in minimal physical activity in the shade during the hottest time of the day.
Anticipated day time temperatures can range from 38oC in the day time and 15 oC in the night time. This
exacerbates the likelihood of heat related injuries such as heat stroke and dehydration. All participants will
undergo training and briefings about living and working in this environment and this will include details of
appropriate clothing and preparation as well as intake of food and water.
The training will also include spotting and diagnosing heat related illness and the treatment of it.
16
British Exploring ensure that all leaders hold appropriate expedition first aid qualifications and have a doctor
in the field to assist with first aid and more serious medical help.
Health and Hygiene
Health and hygiene issues in expedition environments can cause temporary difficulties in the field, and if not
dealt with can lead to longer term complications. Diseases that are endemic to the countries we visit have been
assessed as to the level of risk that they present, methods to deal with contamination, infection and treatment
are identified and are either included in our expedition vaccination statements and/or procedures are briefed
to participants, and high levels of on-going monitoring and precaution are adopted in the field. Our initial
advice on the vaccinations required are presented to all participants as part of the pre-expedition literature,
though more information can be given by the participant’s Travel Nurse at their local GP practice.
Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and NHS advice states that individuals travelling to all areas of Spain
should ensure immunisations are up to date as ‘recommended for life in Britain’.
It is likely that much of the water used by the expedition team will be transported from the mains water supply
in Spain and will, therefore, be safe to drink. If and when water is gathered from streams or similar, it will be
boiled and/or purified before drinking or cooking.
Wild Animals
The area we are operating in has a number of wild animal related hazards, these range from mosquitos and
bugs to large mammals and reptiles.
Whilst usually wild animals avoid large parties of people there are evident risks of encounters and conflicts
All leaders and Explorers will be trained in dealing with low level risks from biting insects and small animals,
as well as highlighting avoidance and treatment of bites and stings, full details of immunisations required will
be available to all participants prior to the expedition in their online portal on the British Exploring website.
The area we are operating in does have a number of venomous snakes, including Montpellier snake and the
Asp Viper, participants will be briefed on identification, avoidance and initial bite treatment. The team will be
required to wear appropriate boots when moving around in the Badlands.
There are also known to be lynx, foxes, Muflon and deer in this area, but human – animal conflicts are rare
due to sensitivity to being around humans, all participants will be trained in actions to undertake if an animal
is sighted and camps will be set up and managed to avoid having food or rubbish left lying around.
Wild fires
With the hot and arid climate, Spain is prone to wild fires. The team will be made aware of the risk of fire and
will be briefed on safety management around camp fires, cooking and burning unsanitary waste whilst taking
part in the expedition.
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General
The hazards highlighted in this document are the main ones pertinent to this expedition. Clearly there are
many smaller hazards that can and sometimes do effect an expedition and the participants. Through
thorough leader recruitment and training, specific training of participants around hazards and risks, the
development of a culture of vigilance and the ability to dynamically respond to incidents we have a robust
strategy for dealing with and minimising occurrences.
For more information regarding British Exploring’s integrated safety management system, please visit our
website http://www.britishexploring.org/our-approach/safety-and-support.aspx
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Accessibility
We want to be genuinely inclusive and ensure that our expeditions provide opportunities for young people
from every area of society to participate over time. To do this, we will be focusing on working with those who
are:
- Aged 14 to 25 (age ranges vary depending on the expedition, you can find the age range of your
expedition under the heading “Who can apply” in your Expedition Info Pack)
- Cognitively able to participate in reflection
- Able to be stretched physically
- Able to be on expedition 'independently’
In addition to the young people we have worked happily with for many years, we have identified additional
groups of young people we want to work more with, and/or who are currently underrepresented on our
expeditions. These include:
- Those at risk of becoming NEET (not in employment, education or training)
- Ethnic minority groups
- Those from communities exhibiting a number of indicators of social and economic deprivation
- Those with physical disabilities fitting our participant profile
- Those in employment/ workplace training
The most important thing we look for from our Explorers is commitment; you must show an initial interest,
and be prepared to commit to the training and expedition from the start.
Insurance Policy Summary:
The Society has comprehensive travel, liability and medical insurance for everyone, with access to emergency
response and evacuation, emergency medical care and repatriation.
Our insurance policy is reviewed yearly. A summary will be available to be viewed February before your
expedition here.
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Acceptance Terms and Conditions
Health and Safety
a) By accepting the Terms and Conditions you confirm that you have studied carefully the Code of Good
Conduct and that you will comply with it.
b) By accepting the Terms and Conditions you confirm that you have studied carefully the Safety Summary
and confirm that you are willing to accept the level of risk contained therein, and that you agree to comply
with all the risk management actions set out in the Safety Summary document as updated and extended
from time to time.
c) You understand that you will be required to complete a confidential medical questionnaire prior to
departure of the expedition. This medical information will be used by our doctors and leaders to help
support applicants through the programme and keep them safe. Any medical information not declared to
us prior to departure could result in British Exploring cancelling your expedition place with no recourse or
refund or compensation. Furthermore, any medical treatment required for an undisclosed prior medical
condition may not be covered by our insurance company and in this case the applicant, or in the case of
those under 18, their parent or guardian, will be liable for any expenses incurred including the cost of a
flight home if necessary.
d) You accept that your entitlement to participate in the Expedition is conditional upon British Exploring (and
its medical advisers) considering that your medical questionnaire is satisfactory and confirming that you
are fit and healthy enough to safely participate in the expedition.
e) Whilst in normal cases, we expect participants to sleep in single gender tents, in some exceptional cases,
you may be expected to share with another participant of the opposite gender. In such cases, British
Exploring will endeavour to ensure that you will not be in accommodation in a mixed gender group of less
than 3 people
Missed Attendance
If an Explorer fails to attend any training event they will automatically be disqualified from the programme
and will not be permitted to attend any future activities. In cases where Explorers miss their outbound
flight, it is highly unlikely that they will be permitted to join the expedition at any future stage.
Training or Expeditions Cancellations
a) British Exploring may cancel your place on expedition at any time if you are in breach of any of these Terms
and Conditions. In these circumstances, British Exploring are not obliged to refund monies paid or offer an
alternative expedition. British Exploring will not be liable for any costs incurred.
b) British Exploring will endeavour to deliver all phases of the programme according to the details outlined
in the Information Pack, however, in extreme circumstances, including political unrest, terrorist activity or
extreme weather, it may be necessary to cancel all or part of the programme for the safety of the Explorers
and staff. In cases where cancellation of any part of the training or expedition takes place mid-way through
delivery, British Exploring will endeavour to assist all Leaders and Explorers with return travel to the UK or
to a specified meeting point as appropriate.
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Delays in Transit
British Exploring can take no responsibility for any delays in transit caused by coaches, airlines or rail
companies. In cases where delays in return transport to the UK affect ongoing travel arrangements, it is
the responsibility of the Explorer to make alternative arrangements and obtain compensation, where
appropriate, from the transport provider. It is the responsibility of Explorers to contact any friends or
relatives planning to collect them, in the event of a delay. Where standard mobile communications are not
possible, British Exploring will provide assistance making satellite phone calls as and when appropriate.
Emergency Procedures
By completing the online application, participants authorise the Chief Leader or Deputy Chief Leader as
appropriate to initiate emergency procedures and, where necessary, emergency medical treatment,
without recourse to next of kin.
Insurance
a) British Exploring will provide comprehensive insurance cover for all participants on the programme,
including assistance with medical repatriation to the UK if and when required. A document outlining the
current proposed levels of cover is provided. If at any time the proposed level of cover changes, British
Exploring will inform Explorers of these changes separately.
b) Explorers are reminded that it is their responsibility to read the insurance document and confirm they are
happy with the levels of cover provided. Any applicant who suffers from a pre-existing medical condition
is advised to contact British Exploring to discuss whether insurance cover is possible for this condition.
Complaints
Throughout the programme, Explorers will be able to offer feedback and address issues to their group
leaders. If they do not feel a complaint has been dealt with effectively, they may escalate the issue to a
member of the senior leader team including the Deputy Chief Leader or Chief Leader. On return to the UK,
Explorers are welcome to address complaints to the British Exploring office. All complaints will be dealt
with according to the British Exploring complaints policy, available on request.
Data Protection (see our full Data Protection Policy here: http://bit.ly/2gs16B3)
a) British Exploring will hold all Personal Information supplied by you in connection with your booking, in
accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Personal information is collected by us when you apply for
a place on expedition and when you update your application. Some of your Personal Information may be
considered “sensitive personal data” under the Data Protection Act 1998. We collect Personal Information
for us to best cater for your needs on expedition.
b) By submitting your application form and accepting your place on expedition you understand that British
Exploring may sometimes need to share personal and sensitive information we process with other
organisations. Where this is necessary we will comply with all aspects of the Data Protection Act 1998.
c) We may disclose your Personal Information to programme delivery partners where relevant for the purpose
of providing you with a service. Only Personal Information necessary for this purpose will be disclosed to
them.
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d) By participating in expeditions and all associated training and follow up events you give your consent for
any photographs/videos of you taken during contact time with British Exploring to be used by British
Exploring in any medium we choose. You grant British Exploring a non-exclusive perpetual, royalty-free,
e) worldwide, irrevocable, fully transferable licence to use such images for training, advertising, publicity,
promotional or other British Exploring charitable activities or services. We will however remove any image
from the public domain, if it is within our power to do so, if a complaint is received for whatever reason.
Financial Terms: Only applicable when the explorer pays a contribution towards the
expedition.
a) You are responsible for payment in full to British Exploring by the final date for payment specified in the
payment schedule.
b) If the final expedition cost increases and this increase exceeds £150 then you will be given the option to
withdraw without penalty. This does not apply to flight costs, which are finalised by the airline nearer to
departure.
c) Refunds will be offered strictly in accordance with the conditions set out in the Payment Schedule and
Refund Policy.
d) In the unlikely event that British Exploring needs, or is required, to cancel the expedition, monies will be
returned to you, in accordance with the insurance allowances outlined in Important Notes. In the case of
cancellation you cannot hold British Exploring liable for any amount over and above those monies paid by
you, or on your behalf.
e) In order to confirm your place on this expeditions, you need to pay your deposit back to British Exploring
within one week of receiving your Offer Letter.
Personal Admissions
a) You confirm that, other than minor motoring offences, you have no Criminal Convictions, either within the
UK or abroad, and that no criminal charges are outstanding against you. Should this cease to be the case,
you undertake to inform, immediately and in confidence, the Chief Executive Officer of British Exploring.
You understand that deliberate non-disclosure of a criminal record may result in travel or repatriation
complications and lead to expedition cancelation, transit delays, insurance policy invalidation and visa or
entry refusal including at borders where we are in transit.
b) You understand that although British Exploring provides recommendations for your personal preparation
necessary for your expedition, it is your responsibility to make sure that you follow the guidance we
provide. British Exploring could cancel your expedition place should you not follow our advice. Advice
may include fitness, vaccinations, travel documents and kit.
c) You agree to fully participate to the best of your ability in all expedition activity including scientific or
media-led activity, and to allow any data from this to be used in writing up British Exploring’s scientific or
media reports.
