The Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA)

The Adventure Activities Licensing Authority's role is to have oversight and responsibility for the efficient delivery of the licensing regime. It sets the strategic direction for the regime, publishes guidance and monitors the delivery of the inspection service, which is operated by Adventure Risk Management Services.

The AALA Management Board has members drawn from HSE and from LG Regulation (formerly LACORS) representing local authorities.

There are two independent members whose role is to:

• bring independent, external challenge to the AALAMB;
• bring knowledge about the regulated sector to the AALAMB;
• be an independent counsel;
• be impartial and objective in their role;
• be alert to the interests of those regulated;
• contribute to decisions on future strategy;
• contribute to policy development;
• contribute to and support Board decisions;
• participate in the licensing appeals process.

There are observers from the Department for Education, Scottish Government and the Welsh Assembly Government.

The AALA is supported by a small team from HSE. The team takes an active role in dealing with the sector and key stakeholders. Its role includes:

• providing support, advice and guidance at a national level to HSE operational inspectors, local authority Environmental Health Officers and the Inspectors working on behalf of the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority
• helping deliver HSE's plan of work;
• developing strategies for the future direction of the licensing regime;
• gathering intelligence about the health and safety performance of the sector;
• working with key sector stakeholders to improve health and safety;
• working with national and European bodies in the development of standards (CEN, BSI etc);
• producing guidance for the industry and for inspectors;
• monitoring the work of the Adventure Risk Management Services, who provide inspection services on behalf of AALA