Plas Menai is one of the largest and well-equipped outdoor centres in Britain.  The centre is owned and operated by
Sport Wales, the national organisation responsible for developing and promoting sport and physical activity in Wales.

Safety is of paramount importance at Plas Menai. The Centre sets the highest standards regarding health and safety and operates rigorous risk assessments and checks. The Centre is licensed by the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority, required by anyone providing adventure activities for young people under 18 and operates to the standards of the National Governing Bodies.

The Centre is accredited by the following organisations

RYA Training Centre
AALA
Quest 
British Canoeing

To manage the risks associated with the operation of Plas Menai, the following measures are in place; 

1. The Centre is licensed by the Adventure Activity Licensing Authority.  The licence number is L103196.
2. The Centre is inspected and approved to deliver sailing, cruising, powerboating and windsurfing by the Royal Yachting Association the UK National Governing Body.
3. The Centre is inspected and approved to provide all aspects of canoe sport by the British Canoe Union.
4. The Centre is inspected and approved by Visit Wales for accommodation.
5. The above inspections and approvals result in the Centre only employing qualified / trained staff. Records of qualifications are maintained on-site for inspection.
6. The Centre has a comprehensive risk management system approved by AALA, RYA and BCU.
7. The Centre has a full fire certificate and a comprehensive fire risk assessment.
8. The Centre has handbooks on health and safety, operation and safety of all activities and child protection.
9. The Centre operates a policy of obtained disclosure checks on all appropriate staff through the Criminal Records Bureau.
10. The Centre has Government Indemnity instead of insurance; however all vehicles are covered by separate insurances.
11. The Centre holds ‘Quest’, the leisure industry standard for service and facility quality management. The Centre also has ‘Investors in People’ through the Sports Council for Wales.   

Other Operational Information

Briefing on Arrival

• All groups have a thorough briefing on arrival, which includes all domestic operational and safety information.
• Supervision  
• Centre staff are responsible for supervision of participants during activity sessions. Visiting staff are responsible for participants outside of activity sessions.
• At lunch times if activities are taking place on-site, visiting staff will be responsible for participants, however, if the group is off-site the instructor will remain responsible.   
• The Centre provides an overnight duty officer who remains on-site who can be contacted in case of emergency.   

Fire Drills

• The centre is in operation 24 hours a day, and it is not practical to run fire drills.  All participants on arrival have a full introduction to as to what to do in case the fire alarm sounds.  As a matter of policy if the fire alarm sounds, the centre contacts the emergency services and a fire unit is dispatched to the site.

Transport 

• The centre owns several vehicles including minibuses.  Only centre staff with appropriate authorisations on their licences can drive centre vehicles.

Specialist Equipment

• The centre provides a wide range of technical equipment and personal protective clothing for participants use.  All equipment will be fit for purpose and is inspected as a part of our activities licence. Records of equipment checks are available on-site for inspection.