Young people from Glasgow took part in a week-long adventure at Outward Bound’s Loch Eil Centre near Fort William recently, thanks to a project funded by the ScottishPower Foundation.

The ‘Skills for Scotland’s Future’ project supported the development of S2 pupils from four high schools in Glasgow; Castlemilk, St Margret Mary’s, Holyrood & King’s Park.

Over the course of the week the children took part in fun and challenging activities specifically designed to develop key skills such as; goal setting, team work, communication, problem solving & leadership. Activities ranged from rock climbing to abseiling and raft building to canoeing with the week culminating in an overnight expedition hike.

The groups were supported in their challenge by a team of ScottishPower’s own apprentices and graduates who acted as mentors helping the pupils increase their confidence, ambition and outlook on life.

The 48 pupils (12 from each school) then celebrated their achievements at an event at Trades Hall last night (24th March) in partnership with the Outward Bound Trust in Glasgow.

On the night, the young people delivered presentations about their experiences in front of local MSPs, parents and friends before receiving certificates from the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Sadie Docherty and ScottishPower Foundation Trustee, Keith Anderson.

Keith Anderson, ScottishPower Foundation Trustee said:

“Through the ScottishPower Foundation we’re pleased to be able to support projects that promote community development, and our work with the Outward Bound Trust is an excellent example that highlights our commitment to providing lifelong skills to some of Scotland’s future workforce.”

Martin Davidson, The Outward Bound Trust’s Scottish Director said:

"This new project - Skills for Scotland’s Future - was realised thanks to the financial support provided by the ScottishPower Foundation and the active input of four ScottishPower graduates and apprentices who worked with the young participants.”

“We very much welcome the support that helps prepare and develop the skills needed for young Scots to effectively transition from education to employment.  This new project has equipped 48 young people with the confidence and employability skills they need to strive forward and realise their own potential in the world of work.  We hope this will be the first of many such projects within Scotland."

Notes to Editors:

• Scottish Power Foundation is a registered Scottish charity (SC043862) and a company limited by guarantee (SC445116). Registered Office: 1 Atlantic Quay, Glasgow G2 8SP.
• The Foundation provides funding to charitable initiatives
• Decisions to award funding are made independently of ScottishPower by an experienced Board of Trustees who have a special interest in the above areas.
• The Outward Bound Trust is an educational charity which raises over £5m a year in order to make an Outward Bound® course available to up to 27,000 young people from across the UK each year. The Trust works with over 6,500 young people annually in Scotland, their goal being to increase the total number of Scottish participants each year to 10,000 by 2017.
• They are the UK’s leading provider of bursary-assisted outdoor learning and are determined to make their courses as widely available as possible to all young people, irrespective of their financial circumstances.  Currently just over 69% of all course participants are financially assisted by an Outward Bound bursary.
• The Outward Bound Trust was founded in 1941 by the marine engineer Lawrence Holt and the educationalist Kurt Hahn.  At this time they provided training for young and inexperienced merchant sea men who were drafted into the navy in WWII, to help them to survive the rigours of North Atlantic convoys and to have them develop real inner strength to overcome shipwreck.  After the war it was felt that the courses The Trust offered would be a valuable means of making individuals more independent, self-aware and able to cope on their own.  Since then The Outward Bound Trust has helped over 1 million young people to learn new skills for education, work and life, discover untapped capabilities, and broaden their outlook. To speak to a member of The Trust please call 0141 413 0244.
• For further details regarding The Outward Bound Trust, its numerous courses and how it operates, please visit www.outwardboundtrust.org.uk

Full details of the organisations awarded funding during 2014 are available on the ScottishPower Foundation section of ScottishPower’s corporate website.

Media Information – ScottishPower Press Office 0141 614 4525