Our long-standing reputation for safety is one of the most often-stated reasons for choosing The Outward Bound Trust.
We are referenced in our sector as the most experienced in our field. We pride ourselves on this and take our responsibilities seriously.
Parents, young people, head teachers, governors, businesses and specialist advisors all demand the highest standards of safety. You'll find information on specific aspects of how we manage health and safety and downloadable documents relevant to our courses on this page.
See our safety measures and compliance
Safe programmes
The overall and final responsibility for health and safety lies with our Trustees, with our Chief Executive taking day-to-day responsibility. The management of safety and risk in the outdoors ultimately involves the judgement of staff and this is supported through documentation and formal/informal meetings and discussions. Staff are required to keep up to date, understand, participate in and follow specified systems and rules.
Documentation includes:
- Safety Rules and Risk Assessments
- Safety Working Procedures and Policies
- Periodic Safety Memos and Notices
- Passing Out (authorisation to undertake specific activities)
- Incident Management
- Safeguarding Handbook
Our instructors
All our instructors when recruited, have to meet our minimum outdoor qualifications and appropriate experience requirement, which includes, Summer Mountain Leader Award, Rock Climbing Instructor and BC Kayak/Canoe Coaching and Technical qualifications.
Many have achieved higher outdoor technical qualifications such as Winter Mountain Leader Award or higher level BCU awards. Not only do our instructors have technical outdoor skills but they also undergo training in the facilitation of our courses and many hold a degree in Outdoor Studies, teaching or coaching qualification. In addition to a variety of National Governing Body qualifications and they all hold current First Aid qualifications.
Group instructors and trainers work 1:12 for the duration of the course and where required for the activity 1:6. Before staff can drive mini buses, they must hold relevant licenses, approved by centre management and undergo ongoing driver awareness training.
Instructors are expected to maintain or increase their qualifications, competence, levels of responsibility and positive influence. The Continuous Professional Development of instructors is key to enhancing the quality of delivery of our courses and all instructors have dedicated training days allocated to them across the year, to achieve their next CPD goal. Senior management spend time in the field with every instructor.
All instructors undergo regular Safeguarding Training and enhanced DBS checks before working with groups.
Risk management and risk assessments
At Outward Bound, we aspire to provide genuinely adventurous activities which have an element of real risk. We can only do this by having robust systems of safety and risk management. Each activity, whether land or water based, has been reviewed by operational staff, significant risks and hazards are identified together with action required and control measures for their mitigation. The Risk Assessments are reviewed on an ongoing basis.
Risk Management Committee
The Trust has a Risk Management Committee, chaired by a Trustee, which meets at least bi-annually. The Committee is made up of both internal senior staff and external advisers. The purpose of the Risk Management committee is to keep an overview of risk management and health and safety across Outward Bound, with a particular focus on:
- The operational activity in the centres
- The management of safety for participants whilst on activities and staying in our residential centres
- The safety of staff
- Current legislation, regulation and good practice within the sector
Pastoral care
We have 24-hour pastoral care in all our centres. Instructors are responsible for delivering the programme, meeting course outcomes and for the welfare and personal development needs of participants in their groups.
We also have Duty Instructional night staff, who start work at 5:00pm each evening and work through until 9:00am the next morning.
They assist with the general running of the centre during this time and are available to help course participants and visiting staff. All staff are First Aid trained. All staff and visitors are issued with ID, which must be worn at all times.
External standards
The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom is the managing and overall awarding body for the LOtC Quality Badge, which recognises providers offering good quality LOtC and managing risk effectively. All of our centres which accommodate school parties have been awarded this standard of recognition.
The Outward Bound Trust is registered and holds current licences for all its centres with The Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA). Adventure activities licensing ensures that activity providers follow good safety management practices.
We are fully committed to the provision of quality service in a manner that meets with the requirements and satisfaction of our supporters, clients and young people. Because of this, we maintain a Quality Management System in accordance with the international standard BS EN ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems.
The Outward Bound Trust is a member of the Outward Bound International network and its safety systems and is scrutinised and approved internationally.
Safeguarding
Regardless of their role, all staff have a duty to keep young people safe and to protect them from sexual, physical and emotional harm. All staff believe that Outward Bound should provide a positive, caring, safe environment which promotes the social, physical and moral development of the individual child or vulnerable adult.
The Children Act 2004, The Protection of Children Act 1999 and the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, all place a duty on organisations to safeguard and promote the well-being of children and young people. This includes the need to ensure that all adults who work with or on behalf of children and young people are competent, confident and safe to do so.
It is important that everyone who works with children and young people understands that the nature of their work and the related responsibilities place them in a position of trust. We have a detailed document that gives clear advice on appropriate and safe behaviours for everyone employed by and volunteering with Outward Bound.
Due diligence
Outward Bound and Apprenticeships
Outward Bound is the behavioural development provider of choice for many of the UK’s top apprenticeship employers. As a registered training provider (UKPRN: 10055764), our courses support the 20% off-the-job training requirement and help apprentices evidence learning for their end-point assessments.
Our residential programmes are tailored, measurable, and impactful. They build resilience, communication and self-management - skills that help apprentices succeed at work and beyond. Learning is active, immersive, and set in the wild - away from distractions and designed to stretch individuals in all the right ways.
Due diligence and key information
We regularly share policies and documentation with current and prospective partners. Some of our most requested items include:
- AALA licence and safeguarding policies
- Centre health, safety, and environmental policies
- ISO 9001 certification and quality policy
- Insurance and financial documents
- Programme design, theory of change and evaluation data
- Our employment guide, competency frameworks and anti-slavery statement
If you need something, just complete our contact us form and we’ll get back to you.
Important Documents
Supporting information
