Visiting Staff Information

You're the expert in what it’s like to work in your business. By working closely with the Outward Bound team you can provide a critical link - helping your early careers to understand how what they've just experienced relates to work and help them transfer the learning.

You can take as active a role in the programme as you would like or are able to. Health, safety and learning outcomes are the responsibility of the Outward Bound team, but you're there to represent your organisation and support your talent.

Whilst we want you to get stuck in, it's really important that you let your talent make decisions themselves to enable the experiential learning process - this might mean you have to bite your tongue sometimes!

As VS we'd like you to:

• Help connect the learning to the workplace.
• Talk to your early careers talent, answer their questions and get to know them as an individual.
• Act as a role model to your participants.
• Join in with activities where possible (and if you'd like to!)
• Assist our team if any behavioural issues arise.
• Provide additional pastoral support if a participant faces any personal/wellbeing issues.
• Adhere to our Community Code.
• Have fun!

We'll provide you with walking boots, a waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers and a rucksack. If you have your own you can bring them, but please don't buy them specially. All specialist activity and safety equipment will be provided as required.

Life at centre is pretty casual, we're a jeans and trainers type of place in the evening. But for the outdoor activities you will need to bring clothing that will keep you warm and comfortable (not jeans). Most programmes will involve getting wet at some point, so make sure you have plenty of spare 'dry' clothes with you. The weather isn't guaranteed (!) so we find that layers are always best. Your kit list should include:

• Two pairs of trainers (one you don't mind getting wet)
• A mix of tops - t-shirts, base layers, fleeces, jumpers, hoodies, thermal tops etc
• Trousers for activities - shorts, leggings, walking trousers (not jeans)
• Walking /thick socks
• Swimwear
• Hat and gloves
• Toiletries, sleep wear, undies etc

It can also be useful to bring...

• Sunglasses, suncream
• Insect/midge repellent
• Hand sanitiser
• Blister kit
• Books, magazines (WiFi can be patchy and is unlikely to be available in your bedroom)
• Earplugs and eye mask!

What you don't need...

• Bedding and towels are provided in your room. You'll find more information about our centres here.

The Head of Centre oversees everything that goes on at centre.

Daily programme operation is the responsibility of the Operations Manager. They'll likely lead the morning meeting every day and will make themselves known to you.

Learning and Adventure Managers oversee the running of all of the programmes throughout the week, they will be your key point of communication should you have any suggestions, concerns or require more information.

Group Instructors are responsible for programme delivery and outcomes. They'll work with the same small group of participants all week, getting to know your early careers talent well so they'll have a thorough knowledge of their personal development and welfare needs.

Duty Instructors work from 5pm - 9am ensuring there's 24-hour pastoral care available for you and your participants.

Unless you have sole occupancy there will likely be other clients on programme at the same time. And at every centre apart from Eskdale, these may include primary and secondary school students.

Hear from some previous VS...

“It was great to see what my apprentices were like outside their normal work, I have been able to connect with them on a more personal level, and also been able to challenge them more because I know what they are capable of.”

“The programme made me think about how I might use the learning back at work, and by doing this I was able to help my staff understand specific occasions where they might encounter similar challenges in the workplace.”

You might also like to take a look at our Social Impact Report. It explains how we can make change happen in young people.

Here are three things you might not know about The Outward Bound Trust...

1. We're a charity
2. We've been going since 1941
3. Over 1.2 million young people have been to Outward Bound

We have to raise over £3 million every year to provide financial assistance to children and schools who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford to come to Outward Bound.

If you have a good time on your programme with Outward Bound and would like to help us spread the word there's lots you can do!

• Share the love on social - follow and tag @outwardbounduk on Facebook, Twitter, Insta and LinkedIn
• Introduce your CSR team to our corporate partnerships team
• Refer us to colleagues who have apprentices and graduates who might benefit from a programme like you've just seen...
• And if you have kids aged 11-19 check out our summer adventures (funding available through the Adventure Fund)