Safety Matters

Safety is the prime consideration at Skern Lodge. We are licensed by the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority to provide specified activities under the following headings: Watersports, Climbing, Trekking. The exact details can be obtained from our office and confirmed by telephoning the Authority on 029 2075 5715.

Trained and Qualified Staff

Not all the activities at Skern come under the scope of the Act. However, as with all activities at the Lodge, every member of our staff is fully trained and qualified to conduct the activities that they instruct. All our instructors and tutors are carefully selected before employment. Practical interviews, careful following up of references and CRB checks - we take great care in checking that they are right for us and right for you!

Not only the instructional staff but also most support staff are first aid trained. This includes maintenance, cleaning, catering and office – all designed to take care of you.

All the catering staff have Health & Hygiene certificates and the catering is regularly appraised by the local Environmental Health Department to ensure catering and domestic standards are the highest. After all the weeks activities most people still put on weight!

Superb Equipment

Modern and maintained to the highest standards by full time staff. And it's all provided. You only need to bring personal clothing, we take care of the rest.

All minibus drivers hold a PCV licence. All our minibuses are less than four years old and, of course, have three point seat belts to each seat. The vehicles are also PCV registered which, effectively, means they have an MOT every 10 weeks! They are inspected daily and professionally serviced and maintained.

The Residential Experience

This is another vital ingredient for many visiting us at Skern. Most of our staff have been with us for years and live on site. This ensures that at whatever the time of day or night, someone is available to look after you.

The whole site is inspected on a regular basis to ensure that standards are maintained. A Quality Audit covers all aspects of our operations and site. Checking and risk assessing the domestic areas is as important as activity safety – good lighting, working locks, safe stairs and beds and excellent fire precautions are just a few examples.

Most groups stay at our own residential centre at Skern Lodge in Appledore but others do stay nearby and visit us just for activities.

Risk Assessments

Risk assessments for the activities you will be partaking in are available on request following completion of your Activity Options.

N.B. We have looked at the option of putting Health and Safety documents such as the risk assessments as downloadable items on the website. However, as part of our ongoing quality assurance, these documents are continually being reviewed and updated so we have decided to continue with e-mailing them on request.