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Thames Path Ultra Challenge - 13th September
Following on from 2024’s South Downs Ultra Challenge, the team are ready to take on the next challenge, where they’ll be catching up with old friends and making new ones. There’ll no doubt be lively conversations and plenty of laughter throughout the day, along with tired feet and maybe a blister or two.
Your donation is just the encouragement they need to succeed. And you’ll be helping to fund British Exploring Society’s vital work. Thank you.
‘When I signed up for expedition, I was pretty unsociable, hiding in a world of computer games for company and was shy. My expedition made me realise that in nature it doesn’t matter who you are or what you background is. I believe the outdoors and nature unlocks your potential and helps you see your goals away from interference. You just need that one moment of opportunity.’ Young Explorer’s post-expedition reflections.
British Exploring Society is a youth development charity founded in 1932 by Surgeon Commander George Muray Levick RN, a member of Captains Scott’s final Antarctic expedition (1910-1913).
While much has changed since the 1930s, the core of Murray Levick’s concept - young people preparing for life by developing resilience and confidence through adventure and learning in a remote wilderness in small self-contained groups - remains at the heart of our work.
Today, we work with young people aged 14-25 years from across the UK, and while any young person can apply to join our programmes, we’re particularly focussed on finding and supporting those who may never consider an adventure or expedition for themselves, as they are the ones likely to benefit most from what we do.
Once with us, we work hard to help them thrive and the results we see are transformative - not just in terms of practical skills and resilience, but in a new-found confidence and self-belief which they carry forward to their future life.
Our diverse groups of young people cross paths and rub shoulders with each other. They exchange ideas in tents and canoes, up mountains and in the jungle – all in environments equally alien to them. Most importantly, they move beyond the limits of what they, and society, thought possible. They ‘Find Their Fire’.
'Our programmes are needed more than ever.'
The NHS is reporting 4000 referrals a week for young people with anxiety and mental health issues. Persistent absence in England’s schools is now at 20% - rising to over 30% in secondary schools serving disadvantaged communities (data; Oasis Community Learning). The term ‘The Anxious Generation’ has been coined for those growing up with social media, and through the pandemic. There has been a drop of over 70% in funding for youth provision in the last 20 years, and our most vulnerable young people have suffered from these cuts most of all.
‘Your donation will help ensure that more young people can access our programmes and be given the much-needed opportunity to unlock their self-belief.’
Take a look at this short video from some of our inspirational Young Explorers sharing their experiences. Thank you.