Is the centre open all year round?
Yes. We are open all year apart from two weeks at Christmas and for Bank Holidays. Our winter season prices are great value!

Are there any hidden extras in the prices?
Our prices are fully inclusive of tuition, meals, accommodation and linen. There are only ever additional charges for activities requiring consumable resources or outside agencies. Any extra charges are agreed beforehand and are usually minimal. We do charge for breakages, loss of equipment and damage to property, but we rarely need to do this.

Is the centre run for profit?
No. Sayers Croft is owned by Westminster City Council and operates as a self funding business unit. The council maintains the external buildings for us. No one is making a profit from the centre; all of our income is used in the running of the centre. This is why we are able to maintain very high standards in both our accommodation and facilities.

I've heard there is a licensing scheme for Outdoor Activity Centres. What does this cover and does Sayers Croft have a license?
The Activity Centres (Young Persons Safety) Act, 1995 created a licensing scheme for outdoor centres. The licensing scheme only covers a limited number of adventurous activities - caving, mountain walking (on land above 600m), climbing (specifically excluding climbing towers) and watersports (excluding still waters less than 100m wide). Sayers Croft offers none of the above and we are, therefore, excluded from the scheme.

Will we have to share a block with another school?
No, we never mix different groups in the same dormitory block.

Can we recognise staff and people who should be on site?
Yes. All Sayers Croft staff wear photo badges. All visiting adults are also given badges to wear during their stay. We also have CCTV covering part of the site.

Is the site safe?
Yes. We have clear boundary fences. The site is set 500m from the nearest road. Only maintenance vehicles are allowed in the residential part of the site and these must follow strict rules. The swimming pool is securely fenced.

Is our dormitory secure at night?
Yes. All of the exterior doors are lockable. Visiting staff are allocated their own set of keys on arrival that operate their specific block. There are interior crash bars for emergency exit. Although the blocks are all single storey, the bedroom windows in the dormitories are all set high up so that they are above head height from the outside, and intruders alarms are fitted to all chalets.

Are there always Sayers Croft staff on site?
Yes. Between 5pm and 10pm each night there is a duty member of staff contactable via a walkie-talkie. From 10pm to 9am a night call member of staff will be resident on site and always contactable in an emergency. In addition there are 15 resident members of staff.

What if someone is unwell or hurt?
All education staff and night call staff are qualified first-aiders. We can give advice and support and have access to the local medical centre, and hospitals.

What if there is a fire?
We have a site wide, computer controlled fire alarm system with detectors in every room. All groups undertake a fire drill on their first day. All exits from accommodation blocks are fitted with crash bars. All soft furnishings and mattresses comply with current fire retardant standards.

Where do the group leaders sleep at night?
The leaders' bedrooms are beside the dormitories. This means that the visiting leaders can get a good night's sleep but are on hand if needed.