A recently published article from British Caving Association, British Cycling, Mountain Training, and Paddle UK presents some joint reflections on fatal incidents during instructed/guided adventure activities. The article urges all leaders to reflect on these events—and consider what must change.

Our Role at Adventure RMS

As an inspectorate, we see this as a useful initiative. It’s in keeping with our commitment to support providers in embedding safety culture, beyond meeting compliance. It is a theme we are also addressing through conference presentations and workshop sessions over the coming months.

You can read the original article here.

Applications for renewal should be received by the AALA not less than 3 months and not more than 6 months before the expiry of the current licence. 

Ensuring an application has been accepted on time (during this period) means the licence will remain in force until such time as a decision is made. 

Not having an application accepted within this window means the applicant risks: 

• Being unlicensed and therefore unable to legally provide activities for which a licence is required 

• Not being awarded an ‘additional’ year duration – if it expires during the review period 

• Returning to a 1-year duration (or less) – if it expires before a renewal application is accepted 

In a recent example a provider who would have received a 3-year licence, had the application been made in good time, has been issued a licence with an 11-month duration!  

Over the summer we have become aware that managing poor water quality is an issue for many providers. 

Contaminated water is a persistent and increasing hazard to health, with heightened concern following regional discharges, algal blooms, and cases of leptospirosis. Things providers should be considering include: 

• Poor water quality as a foreseeable risk  

• Control measures to manage risks which might include; amended session plans, location alternatives, alert systems, tidal cycle planning, alternative activities and cancellations 

• The possible need for instructors to respond to contamination observed during a session 

• Guidance provided by both the RYA and Paddle UK  

Only those who can meet and maintain the relevant safety standards are permitted to hold an AALA licence, and non-compliance is taken seriously. This summer AALA revoked three licences. The circumstances for each were slightly different, however in every case the provider had failed to comply with the conditions on the licence.

All licences are issued with ‘conditions’, which are described in Regulation 9 of the  Adventure Activities Licensing Regulations 2004 (AALR) and are set out on pages 2 and 3 of the licence.

Maintaining Safety Management Arrangements  

The conditions require licence holders to maintain suitable and sufficient arrangements for the management of safety. In particular the conditions relate to:

• The implementation, control, monitoring and review of the measures they will use to manage risks
• Appointing sufficient, competent instructors
• Giving safety information
• The provision, maintenance and storage of suitable and sufficient equipment
• Providing first aid and dealing with emergencies.
• Appointing a competent person to advise on safety

It is crucial that licence holders ensure safety management remains in the hands of competent persons. Those appointed can be in-house or external, but they should be both competent and, in a position to ensure that the control measures the organisation has identified to manage the risks of its activities are implemented, controlled, monitored and reviewed – throughout the period of the licence.

In short, the conditions require the licence holder to maintain the arrangements under which the licence was granted in the first place – this doesn’t necessarily mean the same people, doing the same things with the same equipment. BUT it does mean that management arrangements that determine the way things are done, maintain the same standard of safety.

Non-Compliance and Licence Revocation 

If at any time the AALA considers these conditions are not being met it may consider the revocation or variation of licences. A variation might mean a change or reduction in the activities on the licence. A revocation means the provider is no longer licensed and is not permitted to provide any licensable activities unless they are successful in applying for a new licence. When a licence is varied or revoked AALA’s public register is amended to reflect this. The recent policy change on licence durations that rewards ongoing compliance means that, if successful in obtaining a new licence the provider will only be eligible for a one-year licence.

As well as losing the licence, a provider who provides licensable activities while being non-compliant with the licence conditions is committing an offence under the AALR 2004, and in most cases, they will also be committing an offence under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Offences of this nature can be punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment. Enforcement of the legislation is the responsibility of HSE and the local authorities, and AALA will inform them of any potential breach.

Licence holders are reminded to read the conditions on the licence document and ensure they are continuing to comply with the conditions under which the licence was granted.

Adventure RMS will be delivering a series of updates and workshop sessions throughout the 2025/26 winter period, both at sector conferences and directly to organisations. These sessions are designed to support providers, share insights from recent licence application reviews, and encourage thoughtful dialogue around safety management in adventure activities. 

Updates: Licensing Scheme & Inspectorate Role 

Our update sessions provide an overview of the current work of Adventure RMS. We’ll also cover the key changes introduced to the licensing scheme in April 2025 from our perspective as the inspectorate for the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA). This will include some thoughts about the implications of these changes for licence holders. 

These sessions are ideal for those seeking clarity on the AALA inspection process used by Adventure RMS and the constraints within which this takes place. 

Workshops: Reflecting on recent fatalities

These focus on the issues raised by recent fatalities during instructor-led activities. While each incident is unique, there are common themes that apply across all forms of adventure activity provision. 

Workshop discussions will explore: 

• Safety management in the context of location and participant needs
• Identifying shared themes across serious incidents
• Risk and benefit in activity planning
• Practical steps for decision-makers

Delegates are reminded that effective safety management doesn’t need to be complex—it requires competent people to do straightforward things.  

Where to Access These Sessions 

Adventure RMS presentations and, in some cases, workshops will be taking place at events on the following dates: 

12th & 13th January 2026 

• The Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres (AHOEC)

14th November 2025 

• Scottish Advisory Panel for Outdoor Education (SAPOE)

20th November 2025

• Expedition AAP’s Conference – SOLD OUT

We are also able to deliver sessions to groups of activity-specific providers and other organisations.  If your organisation or network would benefit from a tailored workshop or briefing, please email info@adventurerms.org.uk