The Outward Bound Trust

The Outward Bound Trust’s core mission is to inspire young people to realise their potential through learning and adventure in the outdoors. Through wild adventures and life changing experiences young people are inspired to believe they can achieve more than they ever thought possible. The Trust fundraises to ensure all young people, regardless of their social or financial circumstances have the opportunity to benefit from an Outward Bound course.

The work of The Trust in Scotland is supported by its Scottish Council; a group of professionals who are passionate about the work of Outward Bound and have witnessed, firsthand, the positive impact it has on the development of young people. Utilising its skills and networks the Scottish Council seeks to secure funding to grow and support the number of young people from Scotland who have access to an Outward Bound experience.

In Scotland, The Outward Bound Trust achieves long term outcomes for young people through residential courses at their Loch Eil centre. On Saturday 14th September 2024, members of the Scottish Council will join with colleagues from corporate partner, Livingston James, to undertake their own Outward Bound challenge, specifically to raise funds for the completion of the Loch Eil centre’s Learning Village.

The challenge will reflect a young person’s Outward Bound experience, taking participants out of their comfort zones, involving a full day of adventure; starting with an ascent of the UK's highest peak Ben Nevis, 16km of walking with 1,345m climb, followed by a 7km canoe paddle on Loch Eil to return to the centre.

Loch Eil Learning Village

The aim of this challenge is to raise funds to enable completion of the final part of the refurbishment project at the Loch Eil Learning Village. This element of the project will see the creation of 10 learning pods, one pod for each group of 12 young people at the centre. The pods will be situated around a communal firepit in the grounds of the centre and built to survive the Highland weather (and midges!). They're constructed to have a life span of 50+ years providing support for 300,000 young people!

Funds raised through this challenge will directly support the build of one learning pod. This pod will be named in the memory of Scot McRae, a friend and former member of the Scottish Council. Sadly, Scot passed away in 2023 and the pod will honour his long-standing contribution to the work of the Council and his support for the development of young people in Scotland. Our challenge recognises Scot’s love of the outdoors and his boundless energy (and powers of persuasion!). Scot undertook many adventures in his life and we know he would have been the first to put himself forward to take part in this event.

Thank you for your support in helping us achieve this endeavour and enabling more young people to have life changing experiences.

To learn more about this amazing charity please check out their website - www.outwardbound.org.uk/social-impact-reports