Carlton is registered with the Adventure Activities Licensing Service (AALS) as licensed to provide specified activities under the following headings:

• Open Canoeing - Sheltered inland waters
• Rock Climbing - Single pitch climbs and bouldering
• Abseiling - Single pitch venues summer conditions only
• Hillwalking and mountaineering - Summer conditions only
• Improvised rafting - Sheltered inland waters
• Caving
• Mine Exploration

Our license L7517/RO477 and our entry on AALS's website can be found by clicking here.

Safety considerations influence all that we do at Carlton. Current legislation and best practice have been absorbed into all operating practices and procedures.

Our operation is subject to regular inspection by the Adventure Activities Licensing Service (AALS) and our operating license number is L7517/RO477. The site and our procedures at Carlton are also subject to inspection by the Health and Safety unit of Hartlepool Borough Council.

Our documentation relating to practice, procedure and safety is substantial but we are happy for it to be examined by leaders of visiting groups.

Our instructional staff are encouraged to obtain National governing body awards relevant to the level and nature of the activity which they instruct. In the absence of the appropriate national award, a suitably experienced instructor MAY be given a limited and local validation within the context of a Carlton validation scheme vetted by AALS and created in collaboration with our technical expert and adviser.

Ongoing support and training is given to all our staff who collectively have a very broad range of qualifications and experience. These credentials are available on request.

All children are given a safety brief at the start of their course and there is further opportunity to do so at daily whole group meetings. Individual groups of children are given information relevant to their safety and welfare by instructors at the start of and during their activity. We encourage children to become hazard aware and to develop attitudes which enable them to be safety conscious in the enjoyment of their activities.

The leaders of each visiting group are given a briefing on their course, the organisation of the centre and information relating to safety at the begining of their visit.

Note for Group Leaders

Please note that it is our intention to place all risk assessments and relevant policies and procedures onto our website. We are currently in the process of amending the website in this respect. In the meantime, please be aware that all supporting documentation can be examined at the Centre.