Adventurous Activities Licensing Authority (AALA)

Adventurous Activities Licensing Authority (AALA)

The Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA) is the body which oversees adventurous activities in the UK. Run by the Health and Safety Executive, AALA contracts out the licensing of venues to the Adventure Activities Licensing Service. Following a consultation process which lasted from 2011 to 2015 the AALA was confirmed as continuing to operate in its current form until further notice by the coalition government in March 2015.

Visit the AALA website HERE

Licenseable Activities

Under the Adventurous Activities Licensing Regulations 2004 there is a list of adventurous activities for which providers and venues must be licensed in order to be able to deliver them commercially. In August 2013 by way of clarification AALA also added a list of activities they specify as not requiring a licence in order to be delivered commercially. This was because it was felt that not every activity that appeared licensable on first sight was actually licensable and vice versa.

 Licensable activities include the following:

 Activities not requiring a licence include the following:

 Climbing (on natural outdoor features)

 Climbing

 Rock climbing

 Climbing walls

 Ice climbing

 Zip wires

 Abseiling (incl. on buildings & disused railway viaducts

 Tyrolean traverse

 Coasteering

 Tree scrambling

 Via Ferrata

 Jacob’s ladder

 Gorge/Ghyll scrambling

 Crate climbing

 Canyoning

 Abseiling towers

 Sea level traversing

 Scrambling (if no specialist equipment/techniques required)

 Bouldering (specialist equipment/techniques required)

 Bouldering (if no specialist equipment/techniques required) 

 

 Pool jumping/Tomb stoning/Plunge pooling

 

 Weasiling (as distinct from caving or bouldering)

 

 Ropes courses (incl. obstacle/assault courses)

 

 

 Trekking (journeying in remote moorland/mountain areas above 600m)

 Trekking

 Gorge walking

 Quad bikes

 Mountaineering

 Camping (in remote terrain)

 Wave skiing

 Mountain boarding

 Hill walking

 On-road cycling

 Fell running

 On-piste snow sports

 Orienteering

 Grass slope skiing

 Pony trekking

 

 Off-road cycling/Mountain biking

 

 Off-piste snow sports

 

 Ski touring

 

 Improvised sledges

 

 Ski touring

 

 

 

 Caving and Underground (in natural caves or mines)

 Caving and Underground

 Pot-holing

 Show caves/tourist mines

 Mine exploration

 Artificial cave systems

 Caving

 Mines still being worked

 Cave dicing

 

 

 

 Watersports (on most lakes, fast flowing rivers & the sea)

 Watersports

 Open canoeing/kayaking (sea & inland)

 Rowing boats

 Sea level traversing

 MCA registered yachts

 Sit on tops

 Rigid inflatable boats (RIB)

 Stand-up kayaks

 Wake boarding

 Katakanus

 Water skiing

 Improvised rafting

 Body boarding

 Kite surfing

 Surfing

 White-water rafting

 Snorkelling

 Improvised rafting

 Scuba diving

 Paddle surfing

 Open water swimming

 Sailboarding

 Sand/land yachting

 Windsurfing

 Blo-karting

 Dragon boating

 Power boats (and floats towed behind)

 Surf skiing

 Powered/towed inflatable/rafts

 Wave skiing

 

 Sailing (boats & dinghies)

 

 Duckies

 

 River bugs

 

 Keel boats

 

 Bell boats

 

 Hydrospeeding/Hydroboarding

 

 Stand-up paddleboarding

 

 Artificial white water courses

 

 

 

 Miscellaneous

 Miscellaneous

 

 Archery

 

 Rifle shooting

 

 Paint balling

 

 Survival & Bushcraft

 

 Team building exercises

 

 Bridge jumping

 

 Fencing

 

 Airborne Activities

 

 Clay pigeon shooting

 

 Air rifles

 

 Problem solving exercises

 

 Environmental studies

 

 Bungy jumping

 

 Go karting

 

 Adventure games

 

 BMX biking

 

Adventurous Activity Licensing Service (AALS)

The Adventure Activities Licensing Service (AALS) came into existence on 1 April 2007. It exists to provide licensing of licenseable activities delivered by venues and providers on behalf of AALA. The AALS is presently operated by TQS Ltd, a not-for-profit company under contract to the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA). TQS Ltd was previously the AALA.

If you want to take the children in your care, to an activity centre or provider you can contact the Adventure Activities Licensing Service on 029 2075 5715 or email info@aals.org.uk and they will tell you if the provider is licensed. It is especially important to do so for any of the above activities or any similar ones.

 

Role of AALS

AALS delivers the licensing regime on a day-to-day basis on behalf of AALA. Some of the ways it does this are:

  • considering applications for licences (including renewals and requests for changes;
  • carrying out inspections, including spot checks, of providers of adventure activities;
  • deciding on applications and issuing licences;
  • revoking or varying licences to secure safety;
  • investigating complaints within its remit;
  • making information about licence holders available to the public;
  • answering general queries about licensing.

 

AALS inspectors

The AALS has a small, permanent team of senior inspectors who are all highly qualified and experienced outdoor professionals. They have worked in the sector for many years before joining AALS and all still participate actively in adventure activities. Overall the team has detailed knowledge and experience of all licensable activities and many non-licensable ones which are often found at centres. The requirement to be suitably experienced or qualified is set out in the regulations.

The knowledgeable permanent team is supported by freelance inspectors who can be called upon when needed to deal with particular projects or peaks of work. All inspectors are appointed in writing and carry identification. They will show this on request.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1.  Why are only caving, climbing, trekking and watersports activities within scope of the regulations? What about, for example, motor sports, rope courses, archery and water skiing?

The licensing regulations encompass a broad range of activities but concentrate on those which are done in the most hazardous environments.  Licensing with compulsory inspection is a very strict form of regulation. The list of activities covered by the regulations was decided on following a review of the accident and incident history in this sector and a desire to regulate the activities with the greatest potential for multiple fatalities or severe injuries.

Q2.  The risks in the voluntary sector or on teacher-led trips may be as great or greater. Why aren't they included?

The licensing scheme arises from the tragedy at Lyme Bay in 1993, which involved a commercial organisation assuming responsibility for children's safety and then discharging it negligently. When children go on trips as part of the normal school curriculum under the continuing guidance of the teacher that is different from handing over responsibility to another party of whom certain skills, knowledge and qualifications are expected.

The Department for Education has produced guidance about school trips. There is also guidance for Scotland and the Outdoor Education Advisor's Panel has produced guidance for England. The Welsh Government has issued this guidance.  

The Adventure Activities Licensing Authority prepares guidance for the Adventure Activities Licensing Service inspector. This can be found by following the links on the left. Although written for the inspectors, the guidance may be useful to provider, schools and members of the public.

Q3.  What are the requirements on schools and teachers then?

Teachers leading their own pupils in adventure activities and assuming responsibility for their safety do not have to be licensed. But the school should however ensure that they are competent in the activity which they are leading. The fact that they do not fall within the scope of the regulations does not exempt them from their existing legal duty of care, as a teacher.

If the activity is organised by the school, the local authority or board of governors will, as employers, be subject to the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. They require employers to assess the risks to teachers and pupils of any of their activities and to have in place measures to ensure that the significant risks are controlled. A part of this is ensuring that employees are sufficiently competent.

Q4.  Why not licence the entire range of activities on offer at a particular centre rather than just certain activities carried out there? Surely this is confusing for the public?

The Licensing Service inspectors have always acted as the eyes and ears of the health and safety enforcing authorities. They are required to bring any issues they become aware of to the attention of the provider and to the appropriate authority, if appropriate. Read The Approach to the Inspection of Providers for more detail about how the AALS inspect.

Q5.  Are there any voluntary schemes?

A non-statutory safety accreditation scheme, Adventuremark, is now established. It is suitable for activity providers who are out of the scope of the regulations but would like an independent accreditation. It is also available for AALA licence holders who would like an accreditation of those activities they offer but which are not in scope of licensing. You can find out more at Adventuremark. This scheme is voluntary but providers who are in scope of the regulations do still require a licence.

Adventuremark also feeds into the Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Quality Badge, which is suitable for those providers looking for accreditation to recognise both quality and safety. The LOtC Quality Badge covers all types of learning outside the classroom, from farms to historic buildings, and adventurous activities to expeditions overseas

There are other non-statutory inspection and accreditation schemes such as those offered by Tourist Boards and the various National Governing Bodies of Sport.

Q6.  Do the regulations apply to centres overseas which are operated by British companies?

No, statutory regulations cannot apply outside of Great Britain for legal reasons. The legislation does not apply outside the boundaries of Great Britain and no remit exists for inspecting providers of adventure activities operating in Northern Ireland, Crown Territories, Crown Dependencies or foreign countries. Providers outside GB may find the Adventuremark scheme of interest.

Q7.  Do non-GB providers need a licence to offer activities in GB?

Yes - if they are providing activities in scope of the regulations then they require a licence.

Q8.  What is the law about minibuses, drivers and trailers?

This is a complex area involving both road traffic law and insurance. AALA and AALS inspectors are not competent to advise on this subject.  Activity providers who are part of a local authority should contact their transport department for information. Other providers should contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency or the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency as appropriate.

Q9.  Do the Adventure Activities Licensing Regulations require providers to do criminal records checks?

No - there is nothing in these regulations that requires providers to do criminal records checks. However there are other legal duties on those working with children and vulnerable adults. Further information can be obtained from the Disclosure and Barring Service, or in Scotland, Disclosure Scotland.

 

Complaints

Queries or complaints about individual licence holders should be made direct to the Licensing Service (details above). They will investigate complaints. If the matter is beyond their remit or ability to investigate, they will pass it on to the appropriate enforcing authority and will let you know that they have done so.

 

Incidents at Accredited Centres

The AALS keeps track of all reported incidents which occur at licenced adventurous activity venues.

information about incidents, accidents and near misses that have happened will be of use to anyone who is interested in adventurous activities, as a provider, user, enthusiast, organiser etc. This information is updated from time to time with safety developments and recommendations from within the outdoor community. Often an entry results from specific incidents and the intention of AALA is to look at the outcomes and implications of these and not at the incidents themselves.

The entries have been compiled by the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority.

Venues with this Accreditation

With over 20 years experience of building climbing walls we specialize in the design, manufacture and installation of state of the art, innovative climbing walls, combining years of climbing experience, enthusiasm and manufacturing expertise.

Keswick Adventure Centre has been established in order to provide excellent, affordable outdoor adventure activities for all visitors to our stunning Lake District National Park. We operate in and around the beautiful Borrowdale and Newlands valleys and utilise the fantastic Via Ferrata Xtreme at Honister Slate Mine.

Our aim is to release the potential in people to achieve breakthrough performance through training, adventure and shared experiences.

Award winning HF Holidays has been helping people enjoy the outdoors for 100 years. Today over 50,000 people come on holiday with us every year, enjoying the walking, the hospitality and the company.

Chris is British Mountain Guide, and a member of the International Federation of Mountain Guides Assocations (IFMGA) - the highest international mountain guiding qualification.He is one of the few British Mountain Guides with a license from the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority, allowing us to provide guiding and activities to young people.

For two years ghyllscrambling.co.uk has been delivering the highest quality adventures and ghyll scrambling trips in the Lake District. We have the best kit, the most experienced staff and the best customer service. We personalise your trip to meet your needs. 

Welcome to Summitreks Adventure Activities, where Summitreks has been successfully operating an all year round Adventure Activities business for nearly 30 years.

We have adventures for everyone and specialise equally in looking after those new to the outdoors and those with experience. We hope you can find what you are looking for or are inspired by some things you hadn't thought of.

Situated on the eastern shore of Windermere, our Outdoor Adventure Centre is the perfect place to discover the Lake District and take part in action packed, exciting activities!

Patterdale Hall Estate is a 300-acre private estate located in the breathtakingly beautiful Ullswater valley. The Estate offers eleven comfortable and affordable self-catering holiday properties of various types, all with magnificent views and wondrous settings. We also have a 5-pitch Caravan Club Certified Location which you can read about further down this page. 

Glaramara welcomes individuals, families and groups to the stunningly beautiful Borrowdale Valley in the heart of the Lake District. It is a multi-purpose venue providing accommodation, bed and breakfast, evening meals, conference facilities, venue hire and outdoor activities.

TQ manages and runs Humphrey Head, an outdoor education centre in the South Lakes, for the delivery of outdoor education residential courses to schools, the Prince’s Trust, National Citizen Service and other organisations. 

Sam Sykes™ Ltd was set up to reverse this trend by delivering professionally led Duke of Edinburgh award expeditions across the UK and overseas. With over thirty years' experience in organising and leading DofE Award expeditions at BRONZE, SILVER and GOLD level.

In2venture is a registered charity (no. 518891) which has been operating across north of England for almost 30 years. We are: ”A Christian Community Committed to the Exploration of Faith Through Outdoor Activity” and have provided outdoor adventures for tens of thousands of young people.

Challenging Disability Through Outdoor Adventure

The Lake District Calvert Trust is a residential outdoor centre with over 35 years’ experience delivering challenging outdoor adventure holidays for people with disabilities. 

We offer a full range of outdoor related courses and adventure experiences in mountain and water sports. Our aim is to give each of our clients a personal, high quality, safe and enjoyable adventure experience.

 

Brathay Trust is a charity with the mission to improve the life chances of children and young people. We do this by inspiring them to engage positively in their communities.

The YMCA National Centre is one of the largest outdoor activity facilities in the country. Our core mission is to help people build a future, we do this by working with Schools, Youth Groups and Corporate Groups from all over Europe, helping them achieve their learning and development objectives through experiential learning.

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