At The Outward Bound Trust we aim to help young people realise their potential through learning and adventure in the wild. We create a supportive and challenging environment in which young people can learn more about themselves and see clearly, perhaps for the first time, what they might truly be capable of achieving in life.
Why choose The Trust? Leading impact evaluation process Range of programmes to suit learners’ needs Bursary support and charitable subsidies 70 years of developing young people Real wilderness environments High quality, value for money outdoor learning Experienced and academically qualified instructors
2
There was a definite lightbulb moment. The pupils suddenly had the confidence to become leaders and positive role-models, to discover new friendships and to achieve more. David Dodson, Head of Sixth Form, Lomond School, Dunbartonshire 01931 740000 / outwardbound.org.uk   3
A compelling
social impact To enable us to deliver real value to schools and youth organisations taking part in an Outward Bound® experience, we strive to measure the difference that our courses really make to young people. In our 2011 Social Impact Report, 93% of teachers noted that their pupils had increased confidence, improved social well-being and were more resilient and optimistic as a result of their Outward Bound programme. Other findings of note included: As a result of pupils’ Outward Bound experience, three quarters of teachers were able to support their pupils in a more targeted way. North Lanarkshire Council’s Aiming Higher programme has run with The Trust for more than 15 years and each year works with over 850 pupils to raise standards of achievement. In 2010, the council recognised the significant role that the programme plays in fulfilling its “Raising Achievement for All” strategy. The Mark Scott Leadership for Life Programme, which aims to enhance confidence and leadership in young people, was found to have a lasting effect on participants’ resilience, self-efficacy and optimism for at least six months after the course. Young people can tangibly benefit in many ways from their experiences with The Trust, according to our evaluations. They develop socially, emotionally and on a personal level – perhaps that’s why over 99% of organisations we worked with in 2010 said that they would come back to The Trust in the future.* Click here for further information on our Social Impact. *Customer Feedback data, 2010
A broader scope for
achievement An Outward Bound experience can equip your learners with the essential soft skills for life, learning and work, including: ---------
Investigative skills Reporting skills Presentation skills Employability skills Confidence and resilience Communication and teamworking skills Leadership skills Independent thinking
To ensure your Outward Bound experience achieves the best results for your pupils, we engage with you in the shared planning of your programme to create: ------
A reward or incentive programme A shared experience to develop peer relationships A community integration programme An environmental awareness programme Support towards health & well-being experiences and outcomes -- More Choices More Chances programmes -- 16+ learning programmes
To encourage young people to celebrate and recognise their wider achievements, your Outward Bound course can incorporate: ----
The John Muir Award ASDAN accreditation Adventure & Challenge Award (Level 5 SCQF) The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (expedition/ residential)
01931 740000 / outwardbound.org.uk 5
An
educational charity Bursary support
A 70 year heritage
As the UK’s leading provider of bursary-assisted outdoor learning, we believe that a lack of funds shouldn’t be a barrier to boosting a young person’s self-esteem, to developing their skills or to having a greater appreciation of the natural environment. Our mission, as a notfor-profit organisation, lies in making Outward Bound experiences as widely available as possible to all young people – irrespective of their financial circumstances. In 2010 we worked with over 7,000 young people across Scotland, 79% of whom we supported with bursaries totalling almost £750,000, thanks to the generosity of our donors and our fundraising activities.
With more than 70 years’ experience of using the outdoors to develop leadership skills and inspire confidence and independent thinking, The Outward Bound Trust has cultivated a rich heritage and enduring reputation. Established in 1941 by naval captain Lawrence Holt and Kurt Hahn, founder of Gordonstoun School, the roots of The Trust lie in Scotland, where we ran some of our first programmes from the Moray Sea School in the 1940s. We began as a survival school to prepare young merchant seamen for the rigours of WWII and have since worked with over 1 million participants, adapting our courses to meet the needs of each generation. Now, as an educational charity with royal patronage, we work with young people from all corners of the UK to allow them to experience real challenges and ultimately, flourish as confident, achieving and ambitious individuals.
We can also assist you in sourcing additional external funding for your Outward Bound experience, please contact us for further information.
A value for money experience At The Trust there are no hidden extras to pay for - everything from food, bedding and specialist kit, to comprehensive travel insurance is all included. Schools and youth organisations need only cover the cost of travel to and from the centre. In doing so, we offer you a value for money guarantee and real quality assurance as well as an unmatched experience for your learners in terms of the depth of learning and the real wilderness environments in which we operate. You won’t find a more competitively priced, comparable learning experience for young people elsewhere in the UK – if you do, we’d love to hear from you.
6
I’d like to say thank you to those who helped me pay for my course for this one in a million opportunity. Without it I would not have this amazing feeling of pride and success. Laura, course participant, Tullochan Trust
01931 740000 / outwardbound.org.uk 7
Taking part in the Mark Scott Award has made me believe that I can do so much more in life, and it has allowed me to see all the potential that I have. The knowledge and skills I have gained through working on the project are priceless. Participant, Leadership for Life programme
8
Limitless
opportunities for learning Residential and non-residential programmes to meet your learners’ individual needs A choice of local or wilderness-based courses to suit your objectives Youth and education courses to equip learners with relevant and targeted skills Pre and post course introduction and follow-up sessions to embed and transfer learning At The Trust we address the needs of a broad range of young people by providing an extensive choice of learning experiences. Whilst we provide 3 to 7-day residential programmes, learners can also take advantage of specialist peripatetic courses, which give young people across central Scotland access to nonresidential development experiences. Aimed at both schools and youth organisations working with young people who may not be suited to a traditional residential, these courses offer participants the opportunity to take part in challenging outdoor learning experiences within accessible distance of their home environments.
We work in partnership with organisations to create tailor made courses from one day to three weeks, using a combination of residential and non-residential experiences. From building confidence and resilience in P6 learners to developing employability and leadership skills as part of pupils’ senior phase, our breadth of provision allows learners to access an Outward Bound programme at any stage of their development.
The Outward Bound Trust offers top quality outdoor learning and over their 70 years have developed curriculum-linked programmes that make learning meaningful, engaging and relevant for participants. The Trust’s work with schools is first class and ensures that young people are better equipped to understand their role in society, and above all, make positive contributions within their communities. Peter Allison PhD FRGS, Deputy Director of Post Graduate Studies, The University of Edinburgh
01931 740000 / outwardbound.org.uk 9
We’ve learned so much from our expedition. We now know how to set ourselves goals and targets, how to communicate and encourage each other and how to stay positive in the face of a big challenge. Alness Academy pupils’ blog from their Adventure & Challenge course
01931 740000 / outwardbound.org.uk 11
Experiential learning,
skills for life Experiential approach making learning dynamic, enduring and practical Partnership working to support Curriculum for Excellence experiences and outcomes Challenging journeys, experiences and expeditions in the wilderness, which engage and motivate learners Ongoing review and reflection ensuring long-term, transferable learning Our approach is based on a proven experiential learning process, designed to achieve the outcomes that our customers tell us make a real and measurable difference to their pupils. Built to support the Curriculum for Excellence, an Outward Bound programme enables your pupils to develop life-long, transferable skills whilst complementing your delivery of the Four Capacities. We work in close partnership with schools, youth organisations and local authorities across Scotland to jointly plan and deliver their objectives whilst supporting teachers in their curriculum delivery. These partnerships ensure that every Outward Bound experience not only adds depth and progression to a pupil’s learning journey, it also means that we’re able to support specific experiences and outcomes whilst reinforcing your organisation’s ethos and values.
Using the spectacular environments on our doorstep, we combine mountain, loch and sea adventures to enable your participants to achieve their learning aims. From gorge walking to sea kayaking, hill walking to rock climbing, young people have the opportunity to plan and take part in physical journeys to help them develop within a team and grow as individuals whilst learning about the environment around them. Their developmental journeys often include an overnight expedition in the wild, which represents the pinnacle of their learning. These expeditions, unique to The Trust, give learners the chance to experience an even greater level of challenge, boosting their confidence and broadening their skills as a result.
Our partnership with The Trust offers progressive opportunities to develop young people in each of the Four Capacities. The programmes which McLaren take part in not only deliver short-term results, in that pupils return to school motivated by the challenge and the relevance of the experience, but also provide long-lasting benefits in terms of confidence, problem-solving, critical thinking skills and a can-do attitude. Peter Martin, Headteacher, McLaren High School, Stirling
12
When my teammate said that she didn’t want to jump in the loch on our jog & dip, I said I’d do it with her. I feel like my Outward Bound experience is changing me already, giving me the confidence to say “I can do that.” Eilish, Springburn Academy, Glasgow
01931 740000 / outwardbound.org.uk 13
14
Inspiring locations,
unparalleled experiences Four residential centres in The Highlands, Lake District and Snowdonia. Open year-round Non-residential delivery locations including Loch Lomond & The Trossach’s National Park Choice of inspirational coastal and mountain wilderness environments Specialist facilitation areas to review and evaluate learning At The Outward Bound Trust we use extraordinary locations to inspire young people, giving them the chance to learn about, experience and explore new environments. The Trust’s Loch Eil residential centre, situated in the Lochaber area - a designated geopark renowned for its geological features - offers limitless opportunities for experiential learning in the wild. With easy access to first class mountaineering venues in Glencoe and the classic scramble routes of Ben Nevis, and a fantastic range of wildlife on the doorstep, participants are surrounded by Scotland’s most magnificent and challenging environments. Communal living is an integral feature of an Outward Bound residential. Dormstyle accommodation encourages a sense of community and allows young people to experience the responsibility of living away from home.
Equally, participants can experience a whole host of adventurous locations from the dramatic Campsie Fells and the gorges of Dumgoyne, to breathtaking Loch Lomond through our non-residential operation.
Free taster events
We run free teacher taster events, which are an ideal opportunity to visit our centres and learn more about our evaluation process and social impact research. You’ll participate in activity and learning sessions whilst networking with teaching colleagues and finding out what The Trust may be able to offer your pupils and organisation. Click here for dates and further details of our taster events.
The Trust gives our learners opportunities to set themselves individual and group targets, whilst also meeting the needs of the learning programme back home. Some of the young people we bring may never have left their home town and simply being in these wonderful environments gives them a new understanding of the world around them. Roger Ellison, Training Coordinator, Barnardo’s 01931 740000 / outwardbound.org.uk 15
Exceptional instructors,
life-long skills Over half of The Trust’s instructors hold qualifications for delivering learning, such as a PGCE Over half hold advanced outdoor qualifications Our instructors have worked with us for an average of 4½ years Dedicated group instructor for the duration of your course Our exceptional instructors work with us year-round to help schools and youth organisations to augment and achieve their learning objectives. As experts in outdoor learning and adventure, and with over half possessing academic qualifications for delivering learning, they have the skills, maturity and experience to both support and challenge young people. Using their expertise to guide participants through their Outward Bound experience, your instructor will enable your learners to take on new responsibilities, gain independence and develop their long-term, transferable skills. Because your learners work with a dedicated group instructor from beginning to end of their course, they can build confidence and trust, reflecting on and learning from their adventurous journeys thanks to the important pastoral role their instructor plays in getting to know every member of the group. Their outstanding educational capability, professionalism and personal experience of genuine outdoor adventure ensures that our instructors are consistently rated as one of The Trust’s most valuable assets by our customers.
16
Safety Our experience of accompanying young people on adventurous journeys in the wild has allowed us to accumulate a wealth of knowledge in risk management and in all aspects of working in the outdoors. We can offer schools and groups specific expertise and guidance in these areas, lending staff the support they need to manage risks appropriately. We’re committed to continuous reviews of our safety policies and our centres and staff fully comply with all relevant legislation. Copies of our risk assessments and more detailed information on our safety credentials are available at outwardbound.org.uk.
Our instructor gave our pupils a truly unique opportunity to both recognise and enhance their skill sets. She was not only consultative with us as visiting staff, but engaged with and encouraged our young people, allowing them to grow as leaders and team members alike. Claire Rundell, Pupil Support Staff, Larkhall Academy, South Lanarkshire
Ken and Tony, instructors at our Loch Eil centre, enjoy a spectacular day of climbing on Ben Nevis on their day off.
01931 740000 / outwardbound.org.uk 17
So many highlights to the course, where do I start? Camping on the shore of Loch Venachar or spotting a herd of 30 red deer? No, it was definitely seeing the participants all pull together throughout the week, become more engaged with the world around them and go home with a fantastic sense of motivation and confidence. Excerpt from an Outward Bound instructor’s blog of a Callander Youth Project programme
18
A successf ul team
Your partnership with The Trust Your regional Education Executive can guide you through our simple and straightforward booking process, working with you to begin the shared planning of your programme. To contact the Education Executive for your region, please call us on 01931 740000 or email enquiries@outwardbound.org.uk. Alternatively, please visit outwardbound.org.uk, where you will find direct contact details of all our Executives on our UK-wide map.
01931 740000 outwardbound.org.uk
We go back to The Trust’s Loch Eil centre time and time again because it provides fantastic adventures in an unmatched setting. To my knowledge there is no other course that offers this combination of excitement, learning and expertise. Paul Fagan, Depute Head, Peebles School, Peebles
Head Office The Outward Bound Trust Hackthorpe Hall, Hackthorpe Penrith, Cumbria CA10 2HX Tel: 01931 740000 Email: enquiries@outwardbound.org.uk
Fundraising offices Glasgow, Scotland London, England
Centres Aberdovey, Snowdonia, Wales Ullswater, The Lake District, England Howtown, The Lake District, England Eskdale, The Lake District, England Metro, Central Belt, Scotland Loch Eil, The Highlands, Scotland
Printed on 50% recycled paper. Printed by Cypher Digital. ÂŽ Outward Bound is a registered trade mark of The Outward Bound Trust as is its device. The Outward Bound Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales (1128090) and in Scotland (SC040341) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales (company number 6748835). Registered Office: Hackthorpe Hall, Hackthorpe, Penrith, Cumbria CA10 2HX.