The Alliance acknowledges that many sport and recreation activities take place away from the traditional NGB and club structure.

To ensure that these operations support and compliment the role of NGBs the Alliance works with the adventure activity sector through its support of the Adventure Activity Industry Advisory Committee (AAIAC).

Current licensing legislation does not acknowledge the full breadth of provision and requires some clubs to pay twice.

Background

• adventure activity licensing introduced in 1995
• AAIAC is created by the Health & Safety Commission in 1996
• SkillsActive estimate there are 5,000 organisations providing adventure activities in UK.

Current status

• the UK Government has accepted recommendations to abolish the licensing of adventure activities
• HSE is creating a voluntary ‘Code of Practice’ to replace the licensing scheme
• the Welsh Government has agreed to keep statutory licensing
• the Scottish Government is consulting on whether to keep statutory licensing
• the Alliance believes that there should be a single UK solution and that only way to ensure compliance is with an inspection.

Actions

• HSE will consult on the ‘Code of Practice’ in Spring 2012 but the Alliance believes it is not fit for purpose
• the Alliance will work with the industry committee (AAIAC) to propose long-term solutions.

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