Three volunteers from our London and Bradford offices recently put on their hiking boots and took to the mountains for a week of personal development and adventure! Through our partnership with The Outward Bound Trust, they volunteered as Employee Ambassadors on a course which took a group of disadvantaged Year 6 children from Byron Primary School to Aberdovey in Wales for an activity week they'll never forget.
The aim of the trip is to provide children from underprivileged backgrounds with the opportunity to learn about independence and self-awareness through outdoor learning experiences. The trip also provides colleagues with a great opportunity to go along and act as a positive role model while representing Vanquis.
The children, ambassadors, teachers and instructors all take something away from the week's experience and for the children especially, these include an increased awareness of their own skills and abilities, improved confidence and self-belief, improved ability to communicate effectively with others and more awareness about the natural environment. It was an extremely active week where they had to venture through mines in only candle light, trek, orienteer, canoe, abseiling and complete a gauge walk.
"Fantastic week!!! Enjoyed every moment of it. Incredible and talented young people with amazing qualities that helped them manage the challenging tasks that were assigned to the young group. Activities that required a huge amount of braveness and courage to be able to do (Abseiling, Block Caving)."
"Active Community's involvement with the Outward Bound Trust is an amazing opportunity. I have taken part in this twice now and found both experiences completely different to one another. They have challenged me in ways that I didn't think were possible and have taught me a lot of lessons. Being able to work alongside two different age groups of children from two completely different backgrounds has allowed me to become more aware of the difference in learning expectations.
The fact that you get to spend your days climbing up rocks, running through rivers and jumping into plunge pools when you could be sat at a desk is great! I'm proud to be an ambassador of Vanquis for Active Community and would encourage everyone to get involved."
"I had a fantastic time with Byron Primary in Aberdovey, even if lunch on the Tuesday was had in an emergency shelter on the side of a mountain, in the wind and rain (think tiny hot air balloon shaped tent not lovely log cabin). It was great to see the children develop throughout the week and to challenge themselves in ways which would not be possible if Vanquis didn't fund the trip. "
Outward Bound is an educational charity that uses the outdoors to help develop young people from all walks of life. The trust runs adventurous and challenging outdoor learning programmes that equip young people with valuable skills for education, work and life. The aim of the weekends is learning through adventure. Giving young people the experience and confidence that encourages and helps them to raise their aspirations, seek new opportunities and cope with setbacks.