Useful Contacts
Adventure Activities Licensing Authority – Enables you to search on the Health and Safety Executive site for Activity Providers who are registered with the Licensing Authority as licence holders.
Association of Mountaineering Instructors – The representative body for professionally qualified Mountaineering Instructors in the Uk and Ireland.
Association of Teachers and Lecturers – Now known as National Eduation Union. The site has an off-site trips section
Award Schemes for Mountain Training (for example ML Summer, ML Winter, WGL) – see Mountain Training below.
British Canoe Union – For canoeing and kayaking information for coaching, recreation and competition. (See also Lifeguards below.)
British Mountaineering Council – The representative body that exists to protect the freedoms and promote the interests of climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers, including ski-mountaineers.
British Mountain Guides – Rock climbing, Ice climbing, Alpinism, Expeditions, Skiing, Mountaineering worldwide.
British Orienteering – The national site for orienteering as a running sport involving navigation, map and compass work.
British Schools Orienteering Association – Developing all forms of orienteering, from school and park acivities to competition level activities.
Carymoor Environmental Centre – An environmental education and nature conservation charity based near Castle Cary in east Somerset. “We provide an engaging and fun resource for the demonstration of environmental issues for everyone.”
Charterhouse – A Local Authority Outdoor residential activity centre based in the Mendip Hills.
Childsafe Somerset – Now replaced with Somerset County Council’s ‘Report a child at risk’ webpage providing key contact information if you have any concerns over the safety or safeguarding of a child. Please contact 0300 123 2224 or email: childrens@somerset.gov.uk
Climbing – see UK Climbing below.
Cycling (Visit Somerset) – Information on cycling routes in Somerset.
Dartmoor National Park Authority – Provides the latest information, news and events on Dartmoor.
Devon Wildlife Trust – Events and activities in Devon. (See also Somerset Wildlife Trust below.)
DfE (Department for Education) – Search for ‘school trips’ or other relevant key words.
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award – The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award youth charity.
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (Somerset) – Support Services for Education link to key contacts and information for the Duke of Edinburgh’s award scheme in Somerset.
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First Aid – see St John Ambulance below.
Foreign & Commonwealth Office – GUK givernment wesbite providing information and news on all nations around the globe. The site advises on suitable travel arrangements, security and risks when visiting an overseas nation. Please refer to this site as part of your planning and preparation for any overseas trip.
Forest Schools (Archimedes Training Ltd) – Offer taster days for staff and children and run projects across the country.
Forest School Association – The FSA is the professional body and dedicated voice for Forest School within the UK. We are devoted to promoting quality Forest School for all.
Glenmore Lodge – Scotland’s National Outdoor Training Centre, offering outdoor activity courses for beginners, intermediate and advanced levels.
Health & Safety Executive – The Health and Safety Commission is responsible for health and safety regulation in Great Britain. The Health and Safety Executive and local government are the enforcing authorities who work in support of the Commission.
Health & Safety Executive: School trips and outdoor learning activities – This short guide, published by the Health and Safety Executive tackles the myths surrounding health and safety on trips and the key messages to understand when organising off-site visits.
Health & Safety Extranet (SCC) – This webpage is the location to Somerset County Council’s Health and safety policies, news and information. Links to the Burgundy Pack, Guidance for Schools, EEC and the SCC Outdoor education website can be found here.
Institute for Outdoor Learning (IOL) – The Institute for Outdoor Learning encourages outdoor learning by developing quality, safety and opportunity in outdoor provision and by supporting and enhancing the good practice of those who work in the outdoors.
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Kilve Court – Local Authority Outdoor residential activity centre based in the Quantock Hills.
Learning Outside the Classroom – The website of the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom.
Lifeguards – A specialist committee of the British Canoe Union (see above), the BCU Lifeguards provide lifeguard safety cover for events and are responsbile for the menagement and administration of canoe based lifeguarding.
Lifesaving – see Royal Life Saving Society UK below.
Maps
Met Office – One of the world’s leading providers of environmental and weather-related services. They provide solutions and services to meet the needs of many communities of interest, from the general public, government and schools, through broadcasters and online media, to civil aviation and almost every other industry sector – in the UK and around the world.
Mountain Bike Awards and Courses – Courses and training available from British Cycling.
Mountain Training – Mountain Training is a number of related organisations which offer provision of education and training in the leadership, instruction and coaching of climbing, walking and mountaineering activities in the UK. These organisations include four home nation training boards and the umbrella UK board. Examples of awards: Walking Group Leader (WGL) and Mountain Leader (ML).
Mountain Leader Training Association – A membership organisation for climbing, walking and mountain leaders in the UK and Ireland offering developments opportunities and support for outdoor leaders.
National Guidance – Guidance written and published by the Outdoor Education Advisers Panel (OEAP) (see below) for the management of outdoor learning, off-site visits and Learning Outside the Classroom.
National Navigation Award Scheme – A personal performance, non-competitive, incentive scheme for all ages to learn navigation skills and gain confidence to get out and enjoy the countryside.
News – see BBC above.
Orienteering – see British Orienteering and the British Schools Orienteering Association above.
Outdoor Education Advisers’ Panel – This panel comprises nominated representatives of Chief Officers of Local Authorities in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. It provides a forum for sharing and developing good practice in Outdoor Education. Useful information and guidance site.
Plas-y-Brenin National Outdoor Centre – Provides a range of outdoor activities and training.
Primary Times – What’s On guide for parents, teachers and children.
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Royal Life Saving Society UK – The Society is the UK governing body for Lifesaving and Lifeguarding and is the leading drowning prevention organisation in the UK and Ireland. The site includes guidance on pool lifeguard courses and training for the RLSS National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ).
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) – The site gives advice to teachers organising school trips, such as a list of questions you should ask activity centres before travelling.
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) – Information, walks, talks and events.
Royal Yachting Association – The RYA is the national body for all forms of boating, including dinghy and yacht racing, motor and sail cruising, RIBs and sports boats, boats and powerboat racing.
Sailing: The Royal Yachting Association – The RYA is the national body for all forms of boating, including dinghy and yacht racing, motor and sail cruising, RIBs and sports boats, boats and powerboat racing.
Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership (SASP) – The County Sports Partnership for Somerset. It is one of 49 across England established by Sport England to be the strategic lead for sport in the country.
Somerset Duke of Edinburgh’s Award – Somerset Youth website that provides full details on the Duke of Edinburgh’s award in Somerset.
Somerset Wildlife Trust – Events and activities in Somerset.
South West Mountain and Moorland Leader Training Scheme – This scheme is operated by Local Authorities in the South West to provide training and assessment for leaders in walking and camping activities. Somerset County Council recognises this course as a minimum standard for visit leaders leading groups in the South West on Ten Tors and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expeditions.
Sport England – Helping people and communities create a sporting habit for life.
St John Ambulance – First Aid training plus special first aid programmes for schools and activities for young people.
Surf & Sea Charts – Surf conditions, winds, swell heights, sea temperatures, atmospheric pressures from the Magicseaweed website.
Surf South West – Surf holidays, lessons and courses in Croyde Bay, Saunton Sands, Devon. Established in 1996, they were the first surf school to be awarded level 4 status by the British Surfing Association.
Teachout – A site giving information and resources to teachers who are planning educational visits, residential trips or in-school visits from specialist providers.
Ten Tors -The Ten Tors event, in parallel with the Jubilee Challenge, takes place one weekend in May, every year, and is now limited to 2400 individuals – 400 teams of six teenagers. The teams, depending on age and ability, face hikes of 35, 45 or 55 miles between ten nominated Tors over two days. The intention is that the teams shall be self-sufficient, carrying everything they need to survive two days on the Moor. This site is the main information source for the event.
Tide Times – BBC website link to Tide Times aorund the UK
Transport Direct – Free online journey planner for public transport and car journeys around Britain.
Trip Advisor – Useful website containing ideas for trips in regions. Initial link is to Somerset but the site will allow you to look elsewhere.
UK Climbing – A great all round climbing website full of information associated with rock climbing.
Unions – These are links to the various teachers’ unions. All have different policies with regards to school trips.
- ASCL (Association of School and College Leaders – formerly SHA)
- ATL – (Now known as National Education Union (NEU)
- NAHT (National Association of Head Teachers)
- NASUWT (National Association of School Masters Union of Women Teachers)
- NUT Now known as National Education Union (NEU)
- UCU (University and College Union – includes former NATFHE (National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education))
- Voice (formerly PAT – the Professional Association of Teachers)
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Youth Hostel Association for England and Wales – A charity whose mission is to inspire all, especially young people, to broaden their horizons, gaining knowledge and independence through new experiences of adventure and discovery. They have a diverse network of hostels, often in exceptional places, open to everyone and especially young people.
Young Explorers Trust – A national charity dedicated to promoting safe and responsible expeditions for young people. They do not run expeditions but give advice and practical assistance to both aspiring and experienced expedition leaders.
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