About Us

Whitewater Active is a trading name of Safe and Sound Outdoors (2007) Ltd. With over 25 years of trading we are a well established outdoor activity company. Originally set up by Jim Jayes, the business was bought by Safe and Sound Outdoors in 2013. We retained the service of a number of previous staff and have expanded our staff team as a result of the purchase.

We currently employ 3 full time members of staff and have a number of highly skilled and qualified freelance staff on our team. We provide high quality outdoor activities in a range of subjects. We are registered with AALA who oversee all of our activities delivered to under 18's. We also subscribe to IOL and have an LOTC quality badge.

Safe and Sound Outdoors(2007) Ltd was set up by Craig Forde in 2007 with the aim of the company being to offer good, quality outdoor education to schools and youth groups using a small focused group of instructors dedicated in their chosen field. In addition to offering high quality outdoor education we have also in recent years begun focusing in different areas in particular staff training and development and Duke of Edinburgh Awards. We have worked with a number of clients including Shropshire County Council, New Reflexions, BT, Yoursuresave.com amongst many in offering first aid courses and staff training and development.

Since 2007 we have grown to our current size with our staff team but still focus on our aims that we set at the start of delivering high quality. We bought Whitewater Active to expand our activity portfolio yet still retain our excellent service.

The Owner

Craig has been working in the outdoors for the past 20 years both full time and as a freelance instructor. He stumbled into it after training as an accountant for a while. He has in the past managed a variety of outdoor centre both here and abroad. He managed the YHA in Llangollen when it was an activity centre for up to 100 young people.

Craig has led a variety of groups in numerous different locations both here and abroad including leading 15 young people on a month-long expedition to Nicaragua in order for them to complete their Duke of Edinburgh gold award. Having travelled extensively in his younger years he draws on experiences gained in Africa and Asia and incorporates those into his working life. A passionate outdoor enthusiast he enjoys nothing better than passing on his skills and knowledge to others through the outdoors in training courses and taster sessions. Having had the benefit of taking part in outdoor education trips as a young person he fully appreciates the benefits of the outdoors as a teaching platform. His current passions are riding his rigid mountain bike round the trails of North Wales.

Freelance Staff

Here at Whitewater Active we regularly employ freelance staff to cover our ever expanding programme of activity and clients. All our staff are thoroughly vetted and undergo a rigorous staff training and induction programme. All staff have enhanced CRB checks made and all relevant NGB's are checked and verified. They all also have current first aid qualifications in line with their NGB's.

All staff qualifications can be obtained from our head office if required. Whitewater Active being a trading style of Safe and Sound Outdoors (2007) Ltd
is fully recognised by the AALA (Licence number R1422) and as such has a Licence to teach under 18's the following outdoor activities:

  • AALA Rock Climbing
  • Open Canoeing
  • Kayaking
  • Abseiling
  • Gorge Walking
  • Mountain Biking
  • Whitewater Rafting
  • Coasteering
  • Hill Walking

We have a good team of instructors who have all been chosen for their skills in the outdoors and also their ability to work with a variety of groups. They all hold the minimum NGB qualifications and undergo staff training on a frequent basis.