Canoes, Mountains & Caves CIC
Being well qualified and operating with sound judgement based on years of experience provides the foundation for our professional approach to working in the outdoors.
Mal Tabb (Director)
Mal has been working in and around the area of outdoor activities for thirty years – the last twenty on a full-time basis as: a Freelance Instructor; College Lecturer; Centre Manager and Small Business Owner.
Mal has led over fifty multi-day Canoe journeys throughout the British Isles, predominantly in Scotland & Ireland, and has paddled white water rivers throughout the UK. He has sea kayaked, trekked and climbed in Europe & North America and has explored extensively the caves & abandoned mines of the UK. Mal is part of the leadership team at Elim Community Church, Carlisle.
| Canoes | British Canoeing: – Advanced Canoe Open Water Leader – Endorsed Guide – Level 3 Coach Open Canoe – Level 3 Coach Inland Kayak – White Water Safety & Rescue – Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning – Stand Up Paddleboard Discipline Support Module – PSRC Provider – Personal Performance Awards Provider – Paddle Safer Provider |
| Mountains | Mountain Training: – Mountain Leader Award (Summer) – Rock Climbing Instructor (RCI) – Foundation Climbing Coach (Training) British Mountaineering Council: – FUNdamentals of Climbing 1 & 2 |
| Caves | British Caving Association: – Vertical Cave Leader (North of England) – Vertical Mine Leader (North of England & North Wales) – Cave Instructor Certificate (Training) |
| – Bushcraft Competency Certificate (3 days) – ITC 16 hour Outdoor First Aid |
Marion Tabb (Director)
Marion has been working full-time in the outdoors for 12 years. She began as a member of staff at an outdoor centre in Cumbria before creating Canoes, Mountains & Caves with Mal in 2014. As well as being out running sessions, Marion is currently the organisation’s “Master-Scheduler” sorting out our logistics and planning.
Marion is a competent canoe expedition paddler; enjoys days in the mountains; and has recently become convinced of the benefits of climbing and trekking in the Spanish sunshine when the UK is dark and cold! Marion is part of the leadership team at Elim Community Church, Carlisle.
| Canoes | – Extensive canoeing experience participating and assisting in expeditions all across the British Isles, predominantly in Scotland, & Ireland |
| Mountains | Mountain Training: – Rock Climbing Instructor (RCI) – Foundation Climbing Coach (Training) British Mountaineering Council: – FUNdamentals of Climbing 1 & 2 |
| Caves | British Caving Association: – Mine Leader (North of England & North Wales) |
| – Bushcraft Competency Certificate (3 days) – ITC 16 hour Outdoor First Aid – Level 1 Christian Counselling – Emotional Well-being & Resilience Training – Advanced Safeguarding Training |
Ethan Lisk (Director)
Ethan is a qualified Outdoor Education teacher (2017) with 4 years experience working directly in Education at a range of mainstream and special behavioural schools, delivering both academic and outdoor subjects.
Based in the North-East, he is now a self-employed outdoor instructor and works predominantly for the Education sector supporting young people who are at risk of falling out of mainstream education.
| Canoes | British Canoeing: – UKCC Level 2 Paddlesport Coach – Canoe Leader (Training) – White Water Safety & Rescue – Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning |
| Mountains | Mountain Training: – Mountain Leader Award (Summer) – Rock Climbing Instructor (RCI) British Mountaineering Council: – FUNdamentals of Climbing 1 & 2 Mountain Biking Instructor Award Scheme: – MIAS Level 2 Mountain Bike Guide |
| Caves | British Caving Association: – Cave Leader (Training, North of England) |
| – PGCE (Secondary) Outdoor Education – Qualified Teacher Status (IStip) – IOL Accredited Bushcraft Competency Certificate (3 days) – ITC 16 hour Outdoor First Aid – D1+E Minibus – GB Archery Instructor – Level 3 Safeguarding Training |
Dave Bentley (Director)
Dave worked as an activity instructor, based at Rock UK Whithaugh Park for 7 years; starting as a naive trainee and progressing to a position of Senior Instructor. Whilst still instructing in his spare time, Dave is now training as a Firefighter.
Dave is a lover of fun, food and people. Mountain Biking is his favourite, but he’ll dabble his hand at most things.
| Canoes | British Canoeing: – Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Paddlesport – Whitewater Safety & Rescue |
| Mountains | Mountain Training: – Mountain Leader Award (Summer) – Single Pitch Award (SPA) British Cycling: – Level 3 Mountain Bike Leader |
| Caves | |
| – GB Archery Instructor – ITC 16 hour Outdoor First Aid |
Esther Bentley (Director)
Esther’s love of the outdoors has increased from growing up on a farm and you can now regularly find her chatting to people on a hike, laughing as she swims in a lake or squealing her way down a steep hill on a bike.
Esther has a passion for helping and listening to people, and enjoys using the space the outdoors gives to combine the two. Having spent 8 years working as an instructor at activity centre, she is now studying counselling…watch this space.
| Canoes | British Canoeing: – Level 1 Paddlesport Instructor – Whitewater Safety & Rescue |
| Mountains | Mountain Training: – Mountain Leader Award (Summer) – Rock Climbing Instructor (RCI) British Cycling: – Level 1 Mountain Bike Leader |
| Caves | |
| – Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies – ITC 16 hour Outdoor First Aid |
We operate across the North of England, with regional bases in Cumbria and Tyne and Wear.
Company no. 14596917
AALA Licence no. R2776/L92814
Canoes, Mountains & Caves CIC 