Water-based adventure activities guidance

The Adventure Activities Licensing Regulations will be relevant to water activities above very sheltered water and some height activities. If you are using an external provider to deliver the activity, the simplest check you can make is to establish whether the provider holds an AALA license for the activity you are doing. If they do, then no more checks are required. 

If the external provider does not hold an AALA license, this may be because the water body they operate on is exempt from the regulations. This will be most common on Canals or small ponds, where it is not possible to be more than 50m from the nearest land at any point.

Voluntary organisations, such as Girlguiding or Scout activity centres may also be exempt from holding an AALA license. If the provider does not hold an AALA license, then you should check that the instructor has the right qualifications as listed on the specific Girlguiding adventure activity page and that the safety guidelines are being followed. You will also need written confirmation that they have a risk assessment for the activity you are doing.

You can get in touch with [email protected] if you have any concerns about an AALA exempt activity centre or provider. Please get in contact at least one month before the activity is due to take place and before any cancellation clause means you are unable to cancel without penalty.

Girlguiding water classifications refer to those defined by Paddle UK (PDF, 473KB).

Life jackets and buoyancy aids are flotation devices that help keep girls safe on the water.

• Life jackets keep you afloat in an upright position with your head out of the water, even if you become unconscious.
• Buoyancy aids keep you afloat and allow full movement.

One of these personal flotation devices must be worn:

• By anyone who can’t swim.
• If the activity instructor considers it necessary.
• When abandoning ship.
• If someone feels like they want to wear one.

A life jacket can provide a higher degree of safety, so may be worn in place of a buoyancy aid, but a buoyancy aid should not be substituted for a life jacket.

Those using life jackets must be shown how to safely use and inflate them by the qualified instructor before taking part in the activity. Buoyancy aids and life jackets must be the right size for the participant and worn in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and the classification of water.

Whether you need to use a life jacket or a buoyancy aid will depend on the nature of the activity, weather conditions and location. Follow the guidance on the activity page and speak to the qualified activity instructor. If you need more specific advice, please contact [email protected].

If you are unsure as to the suitability of the provided equipment, you can see if it has either a UKCA or CE marking inside it.

Be inclusive. If you have a participant with a medical condition that will affect her ability to swim, ensure that you inform the instructor and make provision to allow her to participate safely.

Each craft must:

• Be inspected by the qualified instructor before use.
• Carry safety equipment appropriate to its type.
• Not be overloaded.
• Be buoyant enough to stay afloat even if capsized or damaged.

Every craft owned or on long-term loan to a Girlguiding unit or area for use in guiding activities must:

• Be inspected by the qualified instructor before use.
• Have stickers displayed on the boats to show Girlguiding ownership.
• Country / region outdoor activity advisors can continue to do annual checks on the boats and put on a sticker with contact details as a way for the qualified instructors to inform them of any noticed defect. But this should not take the place of the check the instructors do ahead of any activity.

Make sure that the craft and associated equipment (whether borrowed privately or hired from a commercial provider) are adequately insured. The insurance should be current, with a reputable provider (which you can check with FCA), and appropriate for the particular equipment and usage.

Girlguiding’s public liability insurance covers you up to 1 nautical mile from the coast and inland, within the UK, Channel Islands, Crown dependencies and British Oversea territories. If you plan to go further out, please contact the adventure team via email at [email protected].  

Water activities must follow:

• Advice from the Environment Agency and local environmental health department.
• Regulations laid down by the managers of a local water authority or agency.

On the day, the activity leader/instructor should ensure that the water and weather conditions are safe for the activity. Water should be inspected for signs of visible pollution, such as rubbish, blue-green algae or chemicals. If either the leader or the instructor is not satisfied that the conditions are safe, the activity must be abandoned.

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis and its more severe form, Weil’s disease, are extremely rare but can be caught by anyone participating in water sports, Leaders must ensure girls and parents and carers are aware of the symptoms and what action to take if they suspect infection. If they experience the symptoms within two weeks of participation in watersports, their doctor should be informed so they are tested for Leptospirosis, and it is not assumed to be flu.  

Find out more about leptospirosis from the NHS website.

As well as the methods of prevention covered on the NHS website, participants should also:

• Use appropriate footwear to avoid cuts to the feet.
• Shower as soon as you can after water activities.

Blue-green algae

Blue-green algae is a bacterial organism that can be found in ponds, lakes and other inland water, or in the sea during summer. It has a distinctive blue-green colour.

Coming into contact with blue-green algae can cause any, or all of, the following symptoms:

• Vomiting.
• Diarrhoea.
• Skin rashes.
• Eye irritation.
• Muscle or joint pain.

If you experience any of these symptoms, visit your doctor and tell them that you've taken part in water sports.

If you want more information on water safety, ask your local training coordinator for more information on water safety training.

More information on the water safety training module:

Water safety training module introduction (PDF, 2.2MB).

Water safety training module notes (PDF, 756KB).

You can run Paddlesport activities yourself in very sheltered water as long as you have one of the following qualifications:  

• BSUPA Level 1 Instructor.
• Paddle UK Paddlesport Instructor or Stand Up Paddleboard Instructor (you must be signed off to work independently or a Coach Award holder to be present on site at all times during activity delivery). You must follow the guidance for deploying instructors laid out here (PDF, 88KB).