The University of Worcester’s Lakeside Campus has achieved a raft of new independent accreditations allowing it to further expand its outdoor sports and pursuits offering.
Lakeside Campus
The Lakeside Campus, based at Top Barn, Holt Heath, is a 50-acre site hosting a watersports lake, woodlands and an outdoor education activity centre.
In recent weeks the University passed its annual inspection by the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA) for the site, as well as gaining three new accreditations.
The Lakeside campus is now accredited by Adventuremark, a non-statutory safety scheme devised by the Adventure Activity Industry Advisory Committee (AAIAC); has earned a Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Quality Badge - the only national accreditation that recognises both learning and safety for all types of learning outside the classroom providers and is endorsed by the Department of Education; plus it is now an approved Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Training Centre.
Rob Delahay, Outdoor Activity, Sport and Exercise Manager & University Safety Advisor at Lakeside Campus, said: “We are really proud to have achieved these new badges and accreditations, recognising the excellent work going on at Lakeside. It was a real team effort.”
“To achieve the LOtC Quality Badge Lakeside underwent a robust assessment process. The badge means that we meet schools’ learning and risk management needs, no matter what activities we offer. The LOtC Quality Badge is the only national award combining the essential elements of provision - learning and safety - into a trusted accreditation scheme for all types of learning outside the classroom provider.
“The Department for Education guidance on Health & Safety on educational visits recommends that schools look for the LOtC Quality Badge when choosing external providers of educational visits. The scheme is managed and developed by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom.”
Rob added: “Following a robust inspection by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) we are also now able to deliver power boat and safety boat courses at our Lakeside campus. Our customers will have peace of mind about our centre’s standards of safety, management, tuition and equipment, knowing that it has met the highest standards.”