Climbing in the natural environment

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.

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 or carers must sign on behalf of their child. You can do this along with the consent form. Parents or 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 a minimum of a Mountain Training UK (MTUK) Rock Climbing Instructor (RCI) qualification. 

Many centres and climbing walls have their instructors assessed by other instructors. Site-specific sign-off is accepted by Girlguiding, as long as the instructor has a minimum of a Mountaineering and Climbing Wall Instructor (MCI) qualification. Ask the centre whether this is the case. The instructor must be directly assessed by the MCI instructor and the certificate signed by that person, and this may not be subcontracted to another less qualified person (no matter how suitably experienced). It must be renewed annually.

If you're unsure, or if alternative qualifications are held, please contact the adventure team ([email protected]).

We also accept a Girlguiding climbing scheme level 2 award. This may be used at specific sites only.

The instructor must make sure:

• There are no more than 2 participants per leader on multi-pitch climbs.
• Helmets are worn.
• You have access permissions where appropriate and any seasonal restrictions are followed.
• You avoid any rock formations with recognised archaeological, geological or wildlife interests.
• That the equipment is provided by the professional body running the activity.

If any participants are under the age of 18, the provider must be licenced by the Adventurous Activities Licencing Authority.

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

Helmets must be worn by all participants in this activity.

All equipment used must be of a standard considered suitable for climbing. We advise that the equipment is provided by the professional body running the activity.

Ensure girls wear appropriate clothing, remove loose jewellery, and wear closed toe shoes.

The British Mountaineering Council environmental guidelines must be followed.

If you're doing this activity with Rainbows, they must be belayed by either a qualified instructor or a member of the adult leadership team who has been briefed on how to do this. Leaders should include as a consideration in their risk assessment that members of the leadership team could be occupied belaying Rainbows and not able to help with other parts of the activity or help with other issues on the ground. 

The ratios below are given as a maximum. These must be considered as part of the risk assessment and 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: 1:5 (minimum of 2 adults).
• Brownies: 1:8.
• Guides: 1:12.
• Rangers: 1 Girlguiding leader.

Qualified adult to participant ratio

The 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 operating organisation, as well as the risk assessment. It should taken 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.