Risk Acknowledgment Disclaimer

Client assumption of risks, exclusion of liabilities and health declaration.

As you’d expect, we take your health and welfare, and that of our instructors and other staff, very seriously. For this reason, given the above virus, we ask you to complete this form and return it to us within the 24 hrs prior to your session via email. 

Failure to sign, date and return this form within the 24 hrs prior to your session will result in you not being permitted to join us for your scheduled session and in these circumstances we will unfortunately not be able to refund you for any advance payment made.

Vertical Descents and its associated instructors, other staff, founders, directors, other officers and/or shareholders will not be liable in any way for any losses, damage or other claims whatsoever arising from the contracting of COVID-19, AKA Coronavirus, whilst engaging in any of our activities and/or sessions.

I Understand that in no event will Vertical Descents be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever without limitation arising from the contracting of COVID-19 Coronavirus whilst engaging in any of there activities and/or sessions and by agreeing to this i thereby release and discharge Vertical Descents from any claims and liabilities against them due to any COVID-19 Coronavirus circumstance which might occur.

By signing where indicated below you:

·       Acknowledge, understand and accept that it is not possible to mitigate [entirely] against the risk of contraction of COVID-19; 

·       acknowledge, understand and accept that participation in this session may expose you to a risk of contraction of COVID-19; and

·       acknowledge, consent and agree for all purposes to the above disclaimer and exclusion of liabilities and related claims and accordingly waive, release and discharge us for all purposes from any (potential) claims and liabilities against us due to any COVID-19 Coronavirus circumstance which might occur by virtue of your participation in your session.

Should you or any of your party suspect that you may have contracted and/or been exposed to COVID-19 or be displaying any signs or symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 (however mild) and/or if you are responsible for assisting a person classed in any way as vulnerable for COVID-19 purposes, we respectfully ask you not to book or attend at this time.

By signing where indicated below you also declare for all purposes that you acknowledge, understand and confirm as follows (and having noted the above disclaimer):

·       at the time of completing this form you are not awaiting a test or test result for COVID- 19;

·       you are not (and have not within the 14 days prior to completion of this form) displaying signs or symptoms of the above virus;

·       you have not within the 14 days prior to completion of this form had contact with those displaying signs or symptoms of COVID-19 and/or anyone undertaking self isolation for COVID-19;

·       No one in my household has been infected or shown symptoms of Covid-19.

·       No one in my household is in the vulnerable or extremely vulnerable categories as defined in the current UK Government advice.

·       I agree that I am not classed as a vulnerable person with regards to the C-19 government guidelines. I do not suffer from any of the following – Asthma, Diabetes, Obesity, auto immune disease, Heart condition, Any lung disorder and I am not over the age of 70 years.

·       you are aware that engagement in this activity may increase your risks of contracting COVID 19 

·       you will adhere to social distancing before, during and after the session;

·       you are aware, should the need arise, that you are responsible for your own self rescue and that should you require assistance your instructor may have to break the 2m social distancing rule; and

·       if any of the above declarations cease to be complete and accurate between the date of completion of this form and the date of the session, you will update Vertical Descents accordingly and will not be able to participate in the session.

Vertical Descents places safety as a top priority, Adventurous Activities involve some risks for the people taking part and our team aim to keep these risks as low as possible. The chances of serious injury are extremely low, the chance of sustaining minor injuries (bruises, bumps and lacerations) are a possible result of taking part in adventurous activities. Our team will minimize the actual dangers as much as possible.

Participants signing this form also confirm that they are not under the influence of any Drugs or Alcohol during this activity session.

Vertical Descents will not be held responsible for any loss or damage to your personal belongings 

By signing this form you understand and acknowledge what the activity entails and its inherent risk of injury that could occur upon your participation. You the participant are also self-certifying that you fell fit, well and confident in your ability to take part in the activity.

Participants Under 18yrs must have a counter signature from a Parent or Guardian

BOOKING AGREEMENT & HEALTH & SAFETY  - In order to secure your booking the full amount due will be requested at the time of booking. The full payment of the booking will secure the date and time and activity for the number of participants that you require...

By paying for your booking you are confirming that all persons are fit and healthy and can swim & that you agree with our terms and conditions.

Included in the cost of the activity is all of the necessary safety equipment and qualified and professional guides.
In the interests of health and safety, alcohol and intoxicated persons should be left at home. We endeavour to run the safest, most fun trips possible, therefore age restrictions are in place. Please ask when making your booking and read the description for the activity that you are booking on too.
N.B Vertical Descents reserve the right to change the venue of any trip if water levels are too low or too high on the day. We also reserve the right to cancel or postpone any trip/activity due to inclement weather. 

If the water levels or weather conditions on the day of the activity are incompatible towards a safe adventure. Vertical Descents reserves the right to change the venue, to postpone or cancel any trip.
Vertical Descents accept bookings either verbally, by email or written letter.
Bookings are accepted when Vertical Descents receives your non-refundable deposit. Vertical Descents reserves the right to make exceptions to the above where instances dictate.

CANCELLATIONS

All cancellations must be advised in writing and signed by the person who originally made the booking with Vertical Descents. Cancellations are accepted as from the date Vertical Descents receives the written confirmation of cancellation.
Cancellations incur the following charges: – 1. Date of booking to 14 days prior to the trip taking place – client will lose their non-refundable deposit. 2. Within 14 days of the trip, taking place – client will be charged the full amount of the trip.

Accommodation Bookings - All Deposits are non refundable. Cancellations & group size amendments - must be made in writing between the date of you booking in, to no later than 4 weeks before your check in. We can not promise that if your group size increases following your booking, with out prior agreement, we may not be able to accommodate the extra places.

AMENDMENTS
Final numbers of participants must be confirmed by telephone no later than 3 weeks prior to the trip. Failure to do this will result in the client being charged for the full amount of persons booked. Any discounts previously quoted or booked maybe lost or adjusted due to the final number of participants booked.

GIFT VOUCHERS
All gift vouchers are non transferable or refundable. Expiry dates are shown on the voucher and when they expire they are automatically expired from our booking system and can not be retrieved. You can extend a gift vouchers date by 6 months if you contact us before its expiry date, quoting your details and voucher code (Vouchers can only be extended for 6 months once using this procedure) this is for £10 admin fee per voucher. Extensions are not permitted on credit notes/gift vouchers where an activity has been rescheduled or postponed.

AGENTS AND EXCLUSIVE ACCOUNTS
All exclusive office invoices and outstanding balances must be paid on the date of the trip or no later than 7 days from the date of invoice. Vertical Descents charge all outstanding accounts at 2.5% interest for every seven days thereafter. VAT is charged at the standard rate on all invoices.

PRINT -ADVERTISEMENTS AND COMPANY DOCUMENTS
Vertical Descents reserve the right to make alterations to brochure details, and any other company documents, before and after any booking has been received and confirmed. Most of these changes will be minor and in most cases we will inform you at the earliest opportunity if this may effect you.

INSURANCE
Even though Vertical Descents carries full Public Liability Insurance, it is strongly suggested that participants carry their own personal accident policy that covers them for the activity they are undertaking. This should include white-water rafting, surfing, coasteering, climbing, mountain biking and Canyoning. Personal accident policies are usually available from your own insurance broker.

BOOKER PLEASE BE AWARE - PARTICIPANTS
ALL participants must be made aware by the person booking the trip that Coasteering, as well as other outdoor adventurous activities, carries a degree of risk. Even though Vertical Descents has tried to minimise these risks, there is still a chance that participants may fall into cold, turbulent water that is fast flowing. Participants will only be accepted on the understanding that they are aware of these risks and wish to participate of their own free will.
On signing the 'Trip Reservation' or Company paper, or receiving your trip confirmation, you agree to honour and abide by the terms and conditions laid down by Vertical Descents, and have made all the participants in your party aware of these terms and conditions.

NATURAL DISASTERS & PANDEMICS - “As per our policy for ‘Natural Disasters’ no refunds will be offered if cancellation is due to an unforeseeable natural disaster or ‘act of God’ as quite obviously this is out of our control. Specifically, in no event will we be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever without limitation arising from the contracting of COVID-19 Corona virus whilst engaging in any of our activities and/or sessions. By booking you are agreeing to this and you thereby release and discharge us from any claims and liabilities against us due to any COVID-19 Corona virus circumstance which might occur. We will of course honour your booking going forward and will offer you a unique credit code / gift voucher which will enable you to re-book for any of our sessions in the future. This will be valid for 1 year from date of the cancelled session. This voucher / code will then be subject to our “gift Voucher” terms and conditions policy, found above.”