Outdoors
Scholarships for Skills for Life Sally Ryder Taylor describes a new Outward Bound Trust initiative The Outward Bound Trust has been helping young people unlock their full potential while gaining new skills, confidence and resilience for 75 years. To celebrate this anniversary, the Trust is offering 100 scholarships for their Skills for Life Award in summer 2017. Originally founded after the First World War to help merchant seamen improve their seafaring skills, the educational charity has gone from strength to strength in the intervening years. Now a household name in experiential outdoor residential courses, the Trust offers a variety of courses from their five centres in beautiful wilderness settings, in Scotland, Wales and the Lake District. Young people participating in the Trust’s challenging outdoor learning programmes come away equipped with a range of valuable skills that prepare them for education, work and life in general. Ongoing evaluation of these courses shows that young participants are more effective in school, college or the workplace afterwards. Not only do they gain in confidence, communication skills and teamwork, but teachers and parents also note improvements in attitudes and academic attainment.
The Skills for Life Award The Trust has recently developed a unique 19-day summer course, geared to personal development for 15-19 year olds and focusing particularly on the transition into adulthood, whether that involves embarking on A levels, applying for university or entering the world of work. In an ever more competitive world, the Award seeks to help young people to stand out amongst their peers. As well as the Trust’s trademark outdoor adventure challenges such as hiking, climbing, kayaking and overnight camping expeditions, this course also focuses on individual reflection, leading to a 12-month action plan of personal goals that will help young people continue their progress after they have achieved their award and completed the course. Participants come away with a reference from their instructor that is of great ‘added value’ in their adult life to come. Highly skilled and experienced Outward Bound® instructors guide the participants individually, through 1:1 personal coaching sessions, as well as in team activities. Challenges are designed to develop confidence, emotional intelligence, leadership, communication and team-working skills. The skills Pausing on the hike.
Autumn 2016
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