Externally Led Activities

The Adventurous Activities Licensing Authority (AALA) is an agency set up by the Government to inspect and license all those who provide certain commercial adventurous activities to under 18s (this is a UK scheme but not operational in Northern Ireland). Activities shown as requiring an AALA licence cannot legally be run by external providers except where this licence is held. Where a provider holds an AALA licence there is no need to check their qualifications as the licencing system has checked them to be a safe provider. AALA providers can be found or verified using the HSE search list..

AALA does not cover all outdoor activities and exemptions may apply to other voluntary bodies and education authorities. AALA also does not cover activities for those over 18. Where AALA is not required or available, members must make sure the minimum level of qualifications required are in place.

Finding providers outside the UK can be more complex or challenging than finding providers in the UK, further guidance has been provided in FS120085 Adventurous activities abroad. The Adventurous Activity Licensing Authority (AALA) doesn’t exist outside the UK, so checks need to be made that providers hold appropriate level qualifications instead. And National Governing Body qualifications are different in most countries, so need to be checked that they are of an equivalent standard to those required in the UK.

Making sure that the provider has sufficient insurance cover in place is a key step in selecting a provider. Providers should be willing or provide you with a copy of their insurance certificate, and many share these on their websites for you to easily have access to. If you have any questions about the insurance in place you can seek advice from Unity, the Scouts Insurance provider. 

POR outlines the minimum requirement for insurance cover, for most activities this is a minimum of £5 million of public liability insurance whilst for some activities such as flying there are additional requirements. This amount is set using advice from Unity and industry norms, as an accessible level of cover for the types of activities members are undertaking.

Personal Insurance - Indemnity Clauses and Waivers

Before entering into any agreement that includes an indemnity clause, the agreement must be referred to Unity. An indemnity clause is an agreement to reduce or remove the provider’s responsibility in the event of an accident to a participant, damage to personal property or other financial responsibility.

Some providers, for instance, trampoline parks, may ask for a waiver to be signed for each participant. Waivers must be signed by parents/carers on behalf of their own young person, volunteers can only sign for their own participation. Any waiver should also be referred to Unity.

A Scout member can also be an external provider; indeed many activity instructors are Scout volunteers. However, there must be a clear divide between the two roles. To deliver an activity as an external provider, they must meet the requirements for the activity and the activity should be clearly run as an externally provided activity (including supervision, insurance, qualifications etc). As a Scout volunteer, they can only lead an activity within the Scout rules and Permit scheme.

Scout campsites may have systems in place which allow them to provide externally to non-members and the general public. However, to meet Unity Insurance requirements, they must operate within Scout POR. For example, if they run a Summer Camp for young people, the supervision ratios should be those set in Scout POR. 

Be clear about who is responsible for what. Have a separate Site risk assessment and External Provider activity risk assessment. Make sure all elements are considered; for instance, if an External Provider is bringing the equipment this would be on their activity risk assessment, while if site equipment is to be used this will be on the site’s risk assessment.

Someone coming to speak with your section about a topic is not an external activity provider and therefore does not require insurance. If they are providing an activity such as circus skills or bringing animals to the section, then this would be deemed an activity with risks and therefore insurance must be in place.