Local Pupils Attend Adventure and Challenge Course

Accord have supported The Outward Bound Trust for several years now. An educational charity, the Trust runs courses that hugely benefit their young attendees — a segment of society that has been disproportionately affected by the lockdowns and restrictions of recent years.

Courses are tailored to a group’s requirements but will aim to take the attendees outside their comfort zones and challenge them to achieve more than they would believe possible.

The effects of attending the course are clear — attendees, their teachers and carers report increased confidence, resilience, and improved aspirations for their futures.

Mackie Academy Trip to Loch Eil

In November 2022, Accord supported a group of 20 pupils from Mackie Academy to attend an Adventure and Challenge course at Loch Eil.

Having overcome flooded roads and long diversions to get to the centre, the pupils took part in activities including gorge walking, hiking and canoeing. They also took part in teamwork activities onsite, like crate stacking, to develop skills required to work together effectively.

The impact is clearest in how the children described their experience on the course, for example:

“I learnt more of teambuilding and helping others, because we held people by the rope and we also leant a helping hand. I enjoyed climbing the mountain most of all, I was shocked because normally I would back out of doing something like that but it was really fun!”

“I actually feel so happy about overcoming my fears so that I could enjoy the activities.”

“I enjoyed hiking the most because it made me love the outdoors.”

Continuing Support in 2023

Accord are working with The Outward Bound Trust again in 2023 and we hope to support another group of young people to attend a course like this — we believe it can be lifechanging.

“The Outward Bound Trust would like to thank Accord Energy Solutions for their support of our work with young people in Scotland. We very much hope to be able to continue this partnership in 2023 and enable more disadvantaged young people in Scotland to have an experience which has a significant positive impact on their lives.”

— The Outward Bound Trust