Paddlesports

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 evidence that the external provider has their own risk assessment for the activity they are running for you.
• 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 Adventure Activities Licensing Regulations are relevant to paddlesports. If you're using an external provider to deliver the activity, the simplest check you can make is to establish whether the provider holds an AALA license. 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. You can use a centre that is exempt from having an AALA license in very sheltered water as long as the instructors have one of the following qualifications: 

• BSUPA Level 1 Instructor.
• Paddle UK Paddlesport Instructor or Stand Up Paddleboard Instructor (who has been signed off to work independently or a Coach Award holder to be present on site at all times during activity delivery). Read about deploying paddlesport instructors. 

If you want to use a centre exempt from having an AALA license in any water classifications above very sheltered water, you must get in touch with the adventure team ([email protected]) with instructor qualifications and operating procedures at least 1 month before the activity/event.  

Girls under 18 wishing to paddle without an instructor must each hold the relevant Paddle UK award and get permission from their outdoor activities adviser. If you're not sure which award is appropriate, then get advice from your outdoor activities advisor or [email protected].

We advise that the equipment is provided by the professional body running the activity. 

Swimming ability and water confidence 

For many activities around or on water, confidence in the water is more important than the ability to swim a particular distance. Often girls will need to be assisted back onto a craft by the qualified adult running the activity and they should have the confidence to remain in the water until rescued. 

Leaders must check the swimming ability and confidence in water of their girls and highlight those with weak swimming abilities or low water confidence to the instructor. This can be done through either the day activities (Word, 231KB) or residential consent form (Word, 228KB) parents fill in that asks about water confidence and swimming ability.  

Where weak swimmers or those with low water confidence are taking part, this should be risk assessed and ratios may need to be amended. 

You can get good swimmers who have low water confidence if the environment in which they are swimming is different to usual. Someone who is a good swimmer in a pool may not initially be very confident in cold open water. 

Activity providers may have a swimming ability requirement to take part in this activity. Leaders should check with the activity provider before booking.  

If a girl has a medical condition that will affect her ability to swim, tell the instructor so they can assess whether it is possible for her to take part safely.

Personal floatation 

All members taking part in paddlesports may be required to wear personal floatation (such as a lifejacket) by the activity provider or instructor - their guidance should be followed at all times. Personal floatation must be considered as part of your risk assessment for non-swimmers. 

Personal floatation devices must be worn if someone wants to wear one or if there's any uncertainty that you don't need to wear one.  

Personal floatation devices should be available for all to use should they wish. 

Water safety 

 The leader must:

• Make sure that safety rules and alarm signals have been explained to the girls, as well as the need to obey instructions immediately.
• Follow water safety guidelines and ensure that the responsible adult helpers are familiar with them.
• Inspect water for visible signs of pollution, for example rubbish, blue green algae or chemicals.
• Make sure girls and parents or carers are aware of the symptoms of Weil's disease (Leptospirosis) and what action to take if they suspect infection. On the day of the activity, advise participants to cover cuts and grazes with waterproof plasters to help prevent infection. If they experience the symptoms within 2 weeks of participation in watersports, their doctor should be informed so they're tested for Leptospirosis, and it's not assumed to be flu.  

See our guidance on water activities.

Equipment

Helmets must be worn for weirs and any activity on graded water. The qualified instructor should advise on the need for helmets based on conditions and the experience of participants in all other water classifications. 

We advise that the equipment is provided by the professional body running the activity. Only equipment that has been made for the purpose of the activity should be used.

Lilos or inflatables should not be used for these activities.  

International

If doing this activity abroad contact [email protected]. 

The ratios below are given as a maximum and ratios must be considered as part of the risk assessment, this may lessen due to any medical conditions, lack of water confidence, poor swimming 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.

Very sheltered and sheltered water 

• Rainbows: 1:5 (minimum of 2 adults).
• Brownies: 1:8. 
• Guides: 1:12. 
• Rangers: 1 leader with recommended second adult.

All other water classifications 

• Rainbows: not a Rainbow activity. 
• Brownies: not a Brownie activity.   
• Guides: 1:12.  
• Rangers: 1 leader with recommended second adult.

See here for more information about Paddle UK’s water classifications. 

The leadership team ratios must be maintained on the water for the activity. The qualified adult(s) can be included in this ratio. 

Qualified adult-to-participant ratio

In line with Paddle UK, the maximum ratio of participants* to qualified leader must be: 

In very sheltered or sheltered water

• Single craft: 1:8
• Tandem craft: 1:12  

 The activity leader (qualified adult) can choose to have a lower ratio (such as 1:6). 

•  In moderate environments - 1:6. 
•  In advanced environments - 1:4. 

 *Participants include anyone participating in the activity, regardless of age.