With your own company going from strength to strength and expanding into new areas, its sometimes hard to remember to put something back into your local community.
For the past four years, Hill McGlynn have been a Patrons Company of the Outward Bound Trust. The Patrons Company is a group of businesses which contribute annually to a bursary scheme. Every penny of the companys support is used to send young people on Outward Bound courses, particularly those young people who would benefit most from the experience and who would otherwise be unable to afford it. There are over 50 member companies and more are joining every year.
In total, 100 young people from around the Southampton and Lymington area attended the Outward Bound course, which for some is their first time away from home and in a completely different environment.
The activities which take place range from the canoeing, absailing, rock climbing, overnight expeditions and death defying high rope walking. All the activities encourage teamwork and respect for others whilst the course leaders also get the youngsters to focus on their life aspirations.
For many, the course is simply about building self-confidence and also gaining trust in others. Many of the youngsters who participate on the Outward Bound Courses come back with new goals and ambitions in life and this is evident in the fact that many go on to achieve their Duke of Edinburghs Award and follow this through by going on to higher education and training.
The next group of youngsters, sponsored by Hill McGlynn, are due to attend the next Outward Bound course in March 2002.