Safety at Preseli Venture

Outdoor activities and risk

Preseli Venture have been taking people adventuring in the Pembrokeshire coast National Park for over 20 years.  At Preseli Venture your safety is always our priority, alongside nurturing a respect and understanding of the natural environment and, of course, having some fun along the way.

High energy natural environments such as the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park are constantly changing; wind, rain, surf, ocean waves, gravity, wildlife and multi-tactile surfaces combine to produce an environment from which risk can never be totally eliminated.  We at Preseli Venture assume that our clients understand that there is always some risk involved in the activities that we provide.

The exhilaration of exploring such environments is what Preseli Venture is all about. We seek to minimise and manage these risks by providing relevant equipment and experienced, qualified instructors who are supplied with up to the minute weather forecasts, trained in risk assessment and operate according to our in house procedures.  It is up to you to listen carefully to what they say, and to act upon their instructions.

We believe that adventure, in all its diverse forms, is an essential component of many people’s lives. Take care, and we hope that you have a great time!

Accreditations and Inspections

Visit Wales

Visit Wales inspect and grade our ecolodge accommodation annually, our lodge has a 5 star activity centre VisitWales grading.

Canoe Wales

Preseli Venture is inspected bi-annually by Canoe Wales (WCA) and covers all aspects of delivering kayaking professionally, safely and enjoyably on the sea. During the inspection our kayaking equipment and safety equipment is checked as well as our normal operating and safety procedures.

In addition Preseli Venture is an Approved Course Provider, and is contracted on behalf of the WCA to provide kayak coaching courses for the training and assessment of kayak instructors.

Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA)

Preseli Venture is an AALA licensed activity centre, registered with the Adventure Activities Licensing Service as licensed to provide surfing, coasteering and sea kayaking.

Preseli Venture have been inspected by the Adventure Activities Licensing Service on behalf of the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority, with particular attention being paid to our safety management systems with young people, and we have been able to demonstrate compliance with nationally accepted standards of good practice in the delivery of adventure activities to young people, with due regard to the benefits and risks of the activity.

Insurance

We hold public liability insurance for all our business operations and we are happy to provide a copy of our certificate should you require one.

Public Service Vehicle (PSV) driving qualifications

All our minibus drivers (event coordinator and instructors) hold their PSV driving qualification.  Preseli Venture holds a PSV Operators License.

Instructor Qualifications

All of our instructors are required to hold a current first aid qualification. This is a higher level award typically the REC (remote emergency care) first aid award.  Additionally all our instructing team have been trained in life saving according to the syllabuses laid down in the NARS beach life guard and SLSA surf life-saving qualifications.

Individual instructors also hold the following – according to the lead or assistant guide status:

Kayaking

Qualifications in accordance with the Welsh Canoeing Association/British Canoe Union:

• Lead instructor; level 3 sea kayak coach, Canoe Safety Test
• Assistant Instructor; Level 2 kayak Coach, Canoe Safety Test
• Both are trained in general operating procedures and site-specific safety procedures.

Coasteering

For the training and assessment and continuous monitoring of our Coasteering guides we follow the recommendations given by the inspectors from the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA) .

We work closely with, and adhere to, the advice and recommendations of our Technical Advisor who assesses our instructors for their level of competence to lead coasteering sessions.

We adhere to the best practise safety guidelines for Coasteering providers as laid down by the National Water Safety Forum. All our lead and assistant instructors attend an annual coasteering workshop where techniques for delivering safe but fun coasteering are practised alongside theory and practical training sessions. The latest coasteering “best practise” guidelines are shared with the instructing team.

Surfing

Recommendations are followed in accordance with the inspections carried out for the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA) .

Surfing coaches hold either the British Surfing Association (BSA) level 1 coach qualification, or they are assessed as competent to lead a surfing session by a BSA technical advisor.

Useful addresses

Like more information?

Please do call us on 01348 837709, or contact us if you have any questions relating to safety at Preseli Venture.