Boost for school adventure trips

ADVENTURE trips that allow Scottish pupils the chance to get out of the classroom to try outdoor sports are set to benefit from an overhaul in the way they are licensed.

Moves are under way to scrap the complex licensing system blamed for a decline in the number of outdoor activities offered by schools.

The current system was introduced in 1993 after four teenagers died in a kayaking accident at Lyme Bay in Dorset. However, many feel it is too complex and costs small operators too much to become licensed.

The UK government is set to scrap the current system in favour of a code of practice and has been consulting with trip providers. Firms operating north of the border want to see the introduction of a different system in Scotland as the matter is devolved.

The Scottish Adventure Activities Forum (SAAF) said some providers chose not to offer their services to children because it costs hundreds of pounds a year to go through the licensing system.

SAAF secretary John Armstrong said: “The current system is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.”

Activities such as rock-climbing, caving, trekking and water sports require a licence for under-18s to take part, while others, including skiing, do not.

Those working within the sector say this has created unease among schools, although the licensing regime does not apply to activities provided by schools for their own pupils.

The consultation exercise involving the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) ended on 21 September, with the Scottish Government set to respond once responses to the code of practice are released.

Peter Brown, who is leading the initiative for the HSE, said: “The aim of these proposals is to reduce bureaucracy whilst still ensuring that outdoor activities providers meet their health and safety responsibilities.”

Drew Michie, of the Scottish Advisory Panel for Outdoor Education, said: “It’s a bit of a mess. Schools still go on these sort of trips, but it’s happening less and less.”