A LAKE District adventure centre has received national recognition with a special award for their high standards.

Patterdale Hall, owned by Bolton School, has achieved The Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres (AHOEC) Gold Standard Award.

The AHOEC measures all aspects of the centre from administration and communication, facilities, food, the quality of the learning and adventure and its educational validity.

Overall, Patterdale Hall was assessed as ‘excellent’, while achieving ‘outstanding’ in many areas.

Patterdale Hall Manager Tim Taylor said: “I am delighted for the team. It is the reward after a five year journey. The Inspector actually awarded us a higher score than we had given ourselves! I am thrilled that the award puts us in the top 10% in the UK with only fifty centres out of 500 holding this title. The inspector had some lovely things to say about the centre and the work we are doing.”

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The AHOEC Gold award entitles the Hall to the Learning Outside the Classroom (LOTC) Quality badge and the Adventure Activities Industry Advisory Committee (AAIAC) Adventuremark. 

The Hall also holds Adventure Activities Licencing Authority status for in scope activities, while the Adventuremark covers other activities that are out of scope for licensing.

Providers with these nationally recognised awards make it easier for customers to get their trips and visits approved by their local authorities.

Mr Taylor said: “These are busy and exciting times at the Hall.  During the summer months we hosted the National Citizenship Service (NCS) Award again and worked with a youth charity for siblings in care. We are an established provider of the John Muir Environmental Award and have recently made a pledge to Learning Away to continue to provide more ‘Brilliant Residentials’ for children and young people. We also remain a Royal Yachting Association training centre.”

Besides frequent use by Bolton School pupils, the centre, located on an 80-acre estate, is rented out, along with instructors, by other schools, colleges, universities, charities and businesses.

The centre can cater for up to 70 guests who can take part in various activities including sailing, kayaking, mountaineering, abseiling, canoeing, bush-craft, archery and camping.

For more information, visit www.patterdalehall.org.uk.