The Challenger Trust
The Challenger Trust, set up in 1998, is a registered charity which works with disadvantaged young people, giving them the opportunity to develop life skills and improve their academic and employment prospects, through challenging personal development programmes in the outdoors.
Our outdoor education programmes give young people the skills they need to become active and responsible members of their community, at school and beyond. The courses focus on engagement with education and employment skills and have consistently been proved to:
- Help young people to realise their potential: developing self-esteem, self-confidence and raising aspirations. Key to the courses is adopting an "I can" attitude.
- Develop the life-skills that young people will need to be successful in the world of work - teamwork, leadership, problem solving, communication and decision making.
We also offer Bursaries to young people who have signed up for an overseas expedition (with any approved expedition provider focussing on personal development) and have subsequently fallen on hard times, putting their participation at risk.
Click here to visit The Challenger Trust website.
Association of School & College Leaders
World Challenge has a strong relationship with ASCL and aim to offer a range of progressive development and skills-based training expeditions that meet the educational needs of member schools, colleges and today's students, whilst also meeting national educational policy guidelines and standards in terms of safety and compliance. Together we host an annual school and college trip safety conference and are organising bespoke ASCL expeditions to Sri Lanka.
Click here to visit ASCL's website.
HMC GSA SHMIS IAPS
We have a good relationship with the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC), the Girls School Association (GSA) and the Society of Headmaster and Headmistresses of Independent Schools (SHMIS) and work with many members on development opportunities and overseas expeditions. We run successful leadership and skills training programmes to suit the requirements of members of the Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools (IAPS).
Click here to visit HMC's website.
Click here to visit GSA's website.
Click here to visit SHMIS' website.
Click here to visit IAPS' website.
Department for Education and Skills (DfES)
We have advised the DfES on education development issues and safety in outdoor education and were a major contributor to the Education Outside the Classroom report by the Parliamentary Education Committee. World Challenge have, over several years, been a key sponsor and provider for related DfES policy initiatives including Education Action Zones, Excellence in Cities and Activities for Young People. World Challenge represents the Expedition Sector on the Visits Advisory Council of the DfES.
Click here to visit DfES's website.
Local Education Authorities (LEAs)
We are currently working in collaboration with London Challenge, Islington, Hackney, Manchester, Birminham, Waltham Forest, and other leading education providers to offer students in these and other regions new and progressive opportunities for personal skills and leadership development in their schools and communities.
Outdoor Education Advisors (OEAs)
We work closely with Outdoor Education Advisors to ensure we comply with their guidelines.
Key Skills Support Programme
We have been working with the Key Skills Support Programme to produce a guide for teachers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to help students document their Key Skills activities as they prepare for their expedition.
Click here to visit the Key Skills Support Programme website.
YET (Young Explorers' Trust)
World Challenge is a member of the Young Explorers' Trust, a forum of youth expedition organisations that meet to ensure that all such organisations meet the minimum standards necessary for the safe and effective delivery of youth expeditions overseas.
Click here to visit the Young Explorers' Trust website.
Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA)
We have been inspected by the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority and are registered as licensed to provide specified activities under the following headings: hill walking and mountaineering (including overnight camps); kayaking; open canoeing; improvised rafting; rock climbing; abseiling and caving. Licence details can be confirmed by calling The Licensing Authority: T 029 2075 5715. Our Leadership and Development Centre at Buxton is also BCU accredited.
Click here to visit AALA's website.
ATOL
We are licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority and hold ATOL number 2844.
Click here to go to the CAA's ATOL website.
Click here to go to the CAA website.
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
We may be able to offer young people the opportunity to count their expedition experience towards the appropriate section of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award at the relevant level.
Each World Challenge expedition is unique and, as circumstances vary, much depends on meeting the necessary criteria laid down by the Award. Details can be supplied to each Challenger and information on how they can use their expedition as part of an Award is readily available for school staff.
As a Commercial Access Organisation, in the right circumstances we can issue an Access Credit which entitles a young person to register locally with the Award within six months of the expedition and have that experience signed in their record book as complete.
In addition, from time to time, we offer open expedition opportunities in the UK for those unable to organise their own group for assessment and our training programme has been extended to provide adult Leaders with the opportunity to become an accredited assessor for the Expedition Section for the Awards. Details of these opportunities are available from us on request.
Click here to visit The Award website.
