ANGUSalive Becomes a Recognised Provider for Paddle Sports Safety and Rescue Training
Exciting developments are underway at ANGUSalive Countryside Adventure as the team continues to raise the bar for paddlesports training. In 2025, ANGUSalive welcomed Adam Burns as Technical Advisor for Paddle Sports. His arrival created opportunities for the organisation to become a recognised PaddleUK Delivery Partner, allowing nationally recognised awards and certification to be offered at Monikie Country Park.
Adam Burns reviewed the team’s existing qualifications and recommended that some of the Countryside Team should pursuit Paddlesports Safety and Rescue Courses (PSRC) to run at Monikie Country Park. PSRC’s are a pre-requisite for future budding Paddlesport Instructors (PSI) which would also be the next course for ANGUSalive Countryside Adventure to run at the Country Parks.
Outdoor Physical Activity Lead and Head of Paddlesports, Iain Brough, was identified as best placed to begin this journey. He attended the PSRC Orientation course with National Trainer Lyle Smith and completed an action plan that included observing and co-delivering with another PSRC provider. Iain is now fully qualified to deliver the course at Monikie Country Park.
This achievement marks a significant milestone for ANGUSalive Countryside Adventure. Being a recognised delivery partner not only raises the organisation’s profile in paddlesports, but it also enables discipline-specific activities such as Canoe Polo. Monikie will host its first Paddle Scotland Canoe Polo event in early April. PSRC courses are a vital step for anyone aiming to become a Paddle Sports Instructor, ensuring new paddlers have the skills and knowledge required to progress safely to PSI training.
Looking ahead, Iain Brough is continuing his professional development with the goal of becoming a PSI provider for PaddleUK and Paddle Scotland. When the water warms, he will run courses at Monikie, preparing him to complete the PSI Orientation later in 2026.
Iain said of this achievement: “Becoming a PSRC provider is something I’ve been working towards for a long time, so finally completing that journey is a massive moment. It is genuinely exciting for both ANGUSalive Countryside Adventure and wider team, as it means high-quality paddlesports safety and rescue training can now be delivered in-house and the next generation of instructors can gain the skills and confidence they need on the water.”
More information on paddlesports opportunities at Monikie Country Park is available via Paddle Scotland, British Canoeing Awarding, and PaddleUK.