CAG is very lucky to have a dedicated team of volunteers running all sorts of CAG events. None of our leaders are paid for their time, of which each gives significant amounts to enable activities to take place.
So why do we do it? Because we get to work with a great group of co-leaders and a fantastic membership that never fails to amuse, enthral and delight.
Leading a group of individuals to greater confidence and happiness through our series of weekly meetings, events and overnight trips & adventures is hugely rewarding and fun.
More importantly, being able to make a significant positive impression on a young person that will last a life time is a real privilege and one that all leaders value immensely.
All leaders at any CAG meeting or event are all CRB checked and have undertaken safeguarding training.
All of our leaders have significant experience of working with young people, either through working with CAG or other youth organisations.
All activities undertaken by CAG leaders are activities for which they have been trained and hold certification issued the national governing body where required and appropriate.
Join Our Team
We always love to welcome new members to our leadership team and / or the CAG committee.
If you would like to get involved in anyway please fill in the quick form and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!
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Meet The Leaders
Simon Thomas
Simon is the founder and leader of Challenge Adventure Group and has almost 30 years experience working with young people in a wide variety of settings and volunteer / paid roles.
Simon loves going away on CAG overnight trips and holds leadership certificates in many of the activities CAG undertakes.
Interesting Fact: Simon can actually levitate and is fighting global warming by using his own built in bio-digester to provide plentiful amounts of renewable natural gas.
Paul Underwood
Paul joined CAG in June 2021 in a bid to get out of the house following a year and a bit of lockdown, and to get away from his son Sam, who joined as well.
Paul is CAG‘s resident photographer and is behind the lens most of the time, so this is the best picture we’ve got of him in front of the lens.
Paul is an avid endurance athlete on foot, two wheels and in the water.
Interesting Fact: Paul is Welsh - who knew??!! That explains why his body is so energy efficient that he is actually classed as a “power station” rather than a power drain. Whenever he goes for a walk, those in the know try to plug their mobile devices into him, which explains his different walking gait.
Jerome Ment
Jerome is a sun chaser and wannabe beach surf dude, but missed that particular bus.
Jerome likes to keep a low profile as he is on the run from fashion police and has been since the mid 1970s. His love of flares and the fact his bicycle of choice is a chopper strangely hasn’t held him back career wise and he is at the top of his game in the world of cardiology. He owns an extensive collection of stents and has nearly completed a film, years in the making, entitled ‘Saving Private Ryan: bare metal stents on the battlefield’ which is set to be a blockbuster in an incredibly niche market.
Interesting fact: Jerome is formidable, has always been and will always be, but he has a soft spot for crocodiles and everything gator. He once wrestled one as a bet and came out the victor - next time you see him check out his shiny new shoes….
CAG Baby (aka Zach Smith)
CAG Baby (or "Zach" to his face) is one of CAG‘s longest members we couldn’t get rid of, so is now a CAG leader and doubles up as the CAG DofE Manager.
As such, Zach is in the weird position of managing and signing off his older brothers Gold DofE award, which he hasn’t finished!!!
Interesting Fact: Zach is currently working as a Solid Waste Disposal Administrator in America,
but will be back in Blighty in time for this trip, unfortunately. Whilst he has been away he’s learnt how to sing “100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall” - it took a little while to learn the lyrics but he got his head down, grafted and got there in the end. Well done Zach!!
Ruth Billingham
Ruth is our safeguarding officer and chief surfing dude wannabe.
Ruth makes sure all our leaders are DBS checked and have taken part in the required safeguarding training.
Ruth longs to live the high life and consequently spends most of her time with her head in the clouds. She has recently bought a fortnight in a timeshare yurt somewhere in the Himalayas but is so rubbish at map reading has yet to find it. She has vowed to never in her lifetime play foxy bingo although she can’t resist a game of mousetrap using real mice and plenty of cheese.
Interesting fact: Ruth can never go barefoot as, in a bid to become a hobbit 5 years ago, the hair transplant she had on her feet went horribly wrong and she now has to shave them three times a day.
Ellen "Schmellen Crochet" Crockett
We don’t know where Ellen came from, she just turned up one day and never left but we aren’t complaining (at least not when she’s around...). Ellen is the newest CAG leader but has more trip leadership experience than Zach, is more interesting than Zach, is more talented than Zach and better than Zach at everything (or so she wrote).
Interesting Fact: Ellen has just become a contestant on the Great British Bake Off and has knitted tea cosy’s in space with Elton John - she really has! He is the rocket man after all, and she is the rocket baker - good luck Ellen!!
Alex "Geeraffe" Prins
Since turning up at the age of 14, Giraffe has been eating us out of leaves ever since.
Alex is a fully qualified drone pilot, but what‘s the point!? He’s taller than most drone’s can go anyway.
Alex is our resident media consultant, safari consultant and political consultant.
Interesting Fact: Alex has never been to the moon! He was in outer space as a child, but he didn’t stop by for a look on his way past.
Thistle!!!!
Thistle is the newest member of the CAG team.
She loves any kind of attention whatsoever and the boys don’t hesitate in giving it.
Thistle has been on a couple of CAG trips and loves nothing more than a long run followed by a nap on top of someone.
Interesting Fact: Thistle is the reincarnation of Elvis Presley - you should see her move her hips!!
Join Our Leadership Team
Want to come out and have fun with a great set of members? Find out more and join our team.