Recognised Outdoor Activity Member (ROAM)

ROAM is a scheme designed to reassure visitors that the outdoor adventure service they're buying is a good, safe one. It also aims to help good businesses become better.

The aims of the ROAM are therefore to:

extend the principles of licensing and good safe practice to all outdoor and adventurous activity provision within Cumbria;
check some aspects of provision not currently covered by Licensing;
provide a single, consistent kitemark for the reassurance of visitors to Cumbria who may be looking for a wider range of outdoor activity services.

This is a purely voluntary Scheme, and potential Members will need to consider the benefits of membership to their businesses. Obviously, if there is perceived to be no benefit, the Scheme can, and will be ignored. However, Cumbria Tourism believes there are a number of factors that have the potential to assist the development and profitability of local outdoor activity businesses. These include, amongst other things:

a ‘one-stop' kitemark to reassure potential clients
membership of Cumbria Tourism, and its associated marketing advantages;
access to a whole range of discounts and services (on insurance, finance, advertising etc) as a member of Cumbria Tourism;
the opportunity to consult with an experienced outdoor professional during the assessment process, and at other times;
reassurance that your business is following nationally (and locally) accepted good practice;
a written report on the assessment;
a Certificate of Membership and various ROAM stickers for display to the public
use of the ROAM logo in advertising

Assessment

This will be a single visit by an experienced outdoor professional and assessor, and will normally consist of three key elements:

Observation of activities taking place, with the opportunity for the assessor to talk to clients, instructors etc
Management interview with one or more key personnel to discuss the application and the business's operational procedures
Looking at equipment, facilities and other resources.

This process will normally take between two and six hours depending on the size and complexity of the business, and what's happening on the day. Before the assessor leaves, you will be given a short written ‘action plan'. This will have three categories:

Significant pieces of general advice, none of which will affect the decision to approve your membership.
Issues that need to be addressed as a condition of membership. If there is anything in this category, the application will be approved, but some evidence of compliance may be required if membership is to continue.
Issues that are so serious that membership cannot be considered at this time. This will normally be the result of serious concerns safety. To continue after this outcome, the applicant will need to re-apply (paying another fee) once they have addressed the issues in the action plan. This second application will require a further full assessment.

The assessor will submit their report to Cumbria Tourism's Outdoor Activities Working Group with a copy to the applicant. Cumbria Tourism will confirm (or reject) the recommendation and notify the applicant of their decision.

For general information about the ROAM Scheme contact:
Andrea Runkee
Adventure Capital Project Manager

Tel: 01539 825014
Fax: 01539 825079
Email: arunkee@cumbriatourism.org
Website: www.roamcumbria.co.uk

ROAM Assessments - for information about the actual assessment process, about arranging assessment visits, and about the standards that ROAM is looking for; contact Professional Services Outdoors (Malcolm Campbell) email or apply online