Abseiling on a purpose-built structure

If you or another member of your leadership team is running the activity at an external venue/location, follow these extra steps:

• Arrange for a home contact. Leave any route or other relevant details with your home contact and complete a home contact agreement form. Let them know about any changes to your plans.
• Tell your commissioner.
• Get a copy of the public liability insurance of the activity provider before you book.
• Check you hold the relevant qualification (if one is needed) to run the activity and let your commissioner know you plan to run it yourself. If you aren't sure, speak to your local adviser to check.
• Check with the venue that they have the correct equipment and, if needed, specialist clothing that will meet the needs of your group.
• Get any specialist equipment or clothing needed to run the activity not provided by the venue, and make sure this is in good condition and fit for purpose.
• Check that any equipment is suitably insured by the provider and agree what happens to the equipment if it gets damaged.
• Ask for a copy of the venue's safety guidelines and risk assessment (if relevant).
• Make sure you have the correct ratio of participants (girls, leaders and volunteers) to qualified adults (those running the activity if a qualification is needed). This is different to the ratio of leaders to girls.
• Consider the ability and experience of the participants and any disabilities, access needs or health conditions and plan the session accordingly.

Some venues might ask for a disclaimer or waiver to be signed for each person taking part in the activity. This is something which parents/carers must sign on behalf of their child. You can do this along with the consent form. Parents and carers should be given sufficient information from the provider along with the waiver so they can make an informed decision to sign it or not. Leaders can only sign disclaimers and waivers for their own personal participation. 

If you're working with an external provider or external instructors to run this activity outside the unit meeting space, follow these extra steps. 

• Arrange for a home contact. Leave any route or other relevant details with your home contact and complete a home contact agreement form. Let them know if you make any changes to your plans.
• Tell your local commissioner.
• Tell the activity provider about the ability and experience of the participants and any disabilities, access needs or health conditions that need to be considered when running the activity.
• Choose a reputable and licensed activity provider (where applicable).
• Check the qualified adults hold the correct qualification to be able to run the activity (see the information below).
• Get copies of the instructor qualifications and public liability insurance of the activity provider before you book.
• Ask for a copy of the providers' safety guidelines and risk assessment.
• Make sure you have the correct ratio of participants (girls and volunteers) to qualified adults (those running the activity). This is different to the ratio of leaders to girls.
• Check with the venue that they have the correct equipment and, if needed, specialist clothing that will meet the requirements for your group.
• Source any specialist equipment or clothing needed to run the activity not provided by the venue, and make sure this is in good condition and fit for purpose.
• Check that any equipment is suitably insured by the provider and agree what happens to the equipment if it gets damaged.

Some venues might ask for a disclaimer or waiver to be signed for each person taking part in the activity. This is something which parents/carers must sign on behalf of their child. You can do this along with the consent form. Parents and carers should be given sufficient information from the provider along with the waiver so they can make an informed decision to sign it or not. Leaders can only sign disclaimers and waivers for their own personal participation.

The activity instructor must hold one of the following:

• A Mountain Training (MTUK) Climbing Qualification, Climbing Wall Instructor with abseil module or higher
• A Girlguiding Climbing scheme Level 1 award with the abseiling module. This can only be used at specific sites. See our climbing website for more details.
• Many centres and climbing walls have their instructors assessed by Mountaineering and Climbing Instructors (formerly known as MIA holders) or Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructors (formerly known as MIC holders) every year. This is accepted by Girlguiding. Ask the centre whether this is the case. The instructor must be directly assessed by the Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor, or Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor and the certificate signed by that person. This cannot be subcontracted to the holder of another award (like an Rock Climbing Instructor or SPA holder, no matter how experienced); and it must be renewed annually.

In-house awards may be more specific than other awards. Instructors could, for example, be qualified to run one specific activity only. Check this with your provider.

You can verify the quality of a provider by checking it has one of the following endorsements: AALA, Adventuremark or LotC Quality Badge for Adventure. AALA and LotC are not applicable in Northern Ireland, but Sport Northern Ireland confirm the implementation of Adventuremark as a suitable adventure activity accreditation scheme for activity providers in Northern Ireland. Otherwise, you can contact your local outdoor activities adviser to recommend an approved provider.

While it's considered best practice to wear helmets for abseiling, few indoor climbing centres provide them. If this is the case, we recommend adding this line to your permission forms:

'I understand that the management of [indoor abseiling provider’s name] do not provide helmets for abseiling, and that this is accepted practice indoors, where there's no risk of rock fall.'

The ratios below are given as a maximum. These must be considered as part of the risk assessment. This may lessen due to any medical conditions, physical ability or other factors.

Leadership team ratio 

As this activity will take place outside of your usual meeting place the leadership team adult to child ratio is mandatory.

• Rainbows: not a Rainbow activity
• Brownies: 1:8 
• Guides: 1:12 
• Rangers: 1 Girlguiding leader

Qualified adult to participant ratio

The activity leader (qualified adult) should determine what size of group is safe. There must be enough qualified adults to ensure the safety of all participants.

This will be determined by any limitations placed on their qualification or permit, or by the rules of their organisation as well as the risk assessment. It should take into into consideration the location, weather and experience of both the qualified adult and other participants. This risk assessment should be assessed by the leader and any concerns raised to the qualified adult.