Adventures and Young People
The Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA) is an independent watchdog which oversees the safe delivery of outdoor adventure activities for young people and the Adventure Activities Licensing Scheme. Operators offering adventure activities in a commercial manner to those under the age of 18 must comply with nationally accepted standards and good practice and must also undergo an annual inspection and licence renewal where they offer activities which are covered within The Activity Centres (Young Persons' Safety) Act 1995.
Formed in 1996, the remit of AALA is to inspect activity centres and operators who provide certain adventure activities, and ensure they operate with robust safety management systems and within the confines of the Act.
Generally licensing only applies when the activities are done in remote or isolated environments and licensable activities included are as follows - rock climbing, abseiling, ice climbing, gorge walking, ghyll scrambling, sea level traversing, canoeing, kayaking, dragon boating, wave skiing, white-water rafting, improvised rafting, sailing, sailboarding, windsurfing, hillwalking, mountaineering, fell running, orienteering, pony trekking, off road cycling, off-piste skiing, caving, pot-holing and mine exploration.
To find out more about AALA please contact 029 2075 5715 or visit www.aals.org.uk
