Your safety and security

Acorn has established and will maintain a system for managing safety which is based on detailed risk assessments and the operating procedures to minimise the likelihood and severity of the risks. This system is updated every trip by senior Acorn staff. Party leaders get the chance to check the risk assessments themselves on the free inspection visit. We also have in place an emergency response procedure which includes 24/7 backup both in Delhi and in our UK office.

ACCOMMODATION
We have chosen the accommodation we offer with care. Some of it is very basic but we do check to make sure that it is suitably safe. We audit the accommodation in the same way we would in Europe and if we do not think somewhere is safe to stay in we wouldn't use it. We choose accommodation carefully, on the basis of safety, hygiene, location, comfort and suitability for school, college and youth groups and families. We can provide you with risk assessments and audit reports to ensure that you know in advance exactly what facilities are provided.

OUR PROGRAMMES
Our programmes are designed specifically for groups: schools; colleges; youth groups; families. The adventurous activities element is tightly controlled and is provided in conjunction with two leading adventure companies in India. The adventurous activities included in some programmes are not expeditions, they do not require particpants to train in advance, nor do they require a mountain leader to travel from the UK with the group. Our groups do not travel independently. They trek and travel only on routes and in areas which we have already prepared and risk assessed. But it is not just the adventurous element which needs to be properly managed and led. All parts of the programme require particpants to be closely supported and supervised.

TRAVEL
Travel is a very rewarding part of our India trips and is at times challenging. Certainly you have to be able to get up early and to travel by train overnight. You may be travelling by coach stopping at remote villages, or travelling by train pitching up at railway stations teeming with life. You will find yourself inching your way through traffic jams in an auto rickshaw or travelling by taxi through crowded market places – what better way to soak up the spirit of the real India. We do all we reasonably can to get the most appropriate transport arrangements in place for you. Where they can our vehicles travel in convoy.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR SAFETY
Supervision & Control
A key responsibility for the leaders of any trip is to ensure that all participants are supervised appropriately. In practical terms for our programmes in India all groups are divided into sub groups of around 11 each led by an Acorn Guide and a responsible adult appointed by the PL. Together with the party leader we finalise the arrangements for safety to ensure that they take into account the needs of the group and each of its members. Having qualified Indian guides, fluent in local languages and able to speak English and armed with local knowledge and information is the first step.

For each and every trip we employ a Senior Guide who is appropriately qualified and experienced. This Senior Guide works with the party leader to manage the trip from arrival in the airport through to airport departure. Each group is sub divided into sub groups or cells, each with one responsible adult provided by the group, and one guide provided by us. Cell size is usually 10 -12 + responsible adult + guide. The qualifications and experience of our guides is impressive; please ask us to send you copies.

SAFETY TRAINING
The second step we take to manage safety is to provide the Acorn Guides and the party leader with our detailed Risk Management System and train them in its use. In addition all participants are briefed regularly to ensure that they play their part in protecting themselves and others We send party leaders notes to help prepare their group. On arrival in India the Guides provide initial training to ensure that everyone knows that they must follow best practice, and observe key rules to keep safe and healthy. This is followed by a short, written test to identify any group member who is unaware of the health and safety measures they need to take.

OUR LOCAL PARTNERS
The third step we take to manage risk is the choice of partners to work with in India. We have formed close links with three outstanding providers, professional and expert in taking responsibility for young people in the outdoors. They have the expertise and the resources to support our programmes. This gives Acorn huge strength and confidence in its operations in India..

STRENGTH IN DEPTH:
You will see from the documents we send when you book that our strength goes deep. We regularly use the same destinations and so offer trips which have been rehearsed. For all programmes we know the local area and we have immediate backup when required. We have links with local hospitals and GPs' surgeries throughout, and know how best to call upon the emergency services when necessary.

AUDITED ACCOMMODATION
All accommodation is risk assessed and audited by us and restricted to venues suitable for groups of young people.

TREKKING ROUTES
Trekking routes are restricted to those we have risk assessed and approved.

OFFICE IN DELHI
Acorn has an office in New Delhi with UK & local staff on hand 24/7. STAFF You will be accompanied throughout by an Acorn Guide.

TECHNICAL ADVISORS
Our senior Acorn technical adviser oversees the programmes to ensure that all activities conform where possible to UK governing body guidelines.

ACORN GUIDES
A key responsibility for all PLs is to ensure that all participants are supervised throughout. All our trips are led by a Senior Guide and assisted by additional Guides to ensure that there is a minimum of one Guide and one responsible adult for each cell of 10-12 (maximum 14).

Typically a Senior Guide will be a graduate with mountain leader qualifications way beyond what is necessary for the local trekking which never extends further than three hours from our centre. But the calibre of these guides is vitally important: they are used to managing groups in the hills and in the towns; they speak English and the local language, and are competent and trained to manage risk and work with the party leader to manage and control the group. We often include a doctor in our team.

BENCHMARKING AND ACCREDITATIONS
We use as our benchmarks: the standards of learning and safety as required by The Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC), the Code of Practice and Safety Management Standards required by the STF (www.schooltravelforum.com), and British Activity Providers' Association's Code of Practice ( www.baha.org.uk ). We are committed to achieving the appropriate badge for LOtC.
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