At Outward Bound, we believe in young people.

Being Outward Bound is how we bring that belief to life. It’s our way of working - with purpose, with care, and always with young people at the centre.

Our people, places and process

Every Outward Bound course is built on three key ingredients: the people who lead it, the places we go, and the way we help young people learn from it. Together, they create powerful experiences with lasting impact.

Our people

Our people are experienced educators who facilitate learning. They are also qualified and competent outdoor instructors.

A diverse group of young people and an instructor wearing red jackets and blue helmets on a boat, surrounded by water and greenery on a cloudy day.

Our places

Our places involve real adventures in the natural environment. They are inspiring and offer unique and challenging experiences.

Group of hikers walking along a narrow mountain trail on a grassy slope under a partly cloudy sky, with rolling hills in the distance.

Our process

Our process combines personal journeys, experiential learning, continuous reflection and reviewing, and transferable outcomes.

Two young people crouch on a wooden floor, writing on a colourful poster, while five others sit against a wooden wall in the background.

Our formula

Our Foundations For Working With Young People

We apply eight foundations to shape our work. These help us tailor our approach to each group and setting, ensuring that every experience is safe, inclusive, and impactful.

  1. Understanding young people’s worlds and needs
  2. Learning through adventure
  3. Commitment to continuous improvement
  4. A clear, cyclical learning process
  5. Working in partnership with visiting staff and stakeholders
  6. Delivering authentic adventure
  7. Promoting environmental awareness and stewardship
  8. Creating a supportive residential experience

Our Learning Process

Our learning cycle is simple, but powerful:

  1. Set expectations and frame learning
  2. Engage through adventure
  3. Reflect to deepen understanding
  4. Transfer learning back to life

Our instructors play an active role throughout - turning moments of challenge into moments of growth.

Authentic Adventure

Young people don’t just visit wild places - they journey through them. Our expeditions are real, challenging, and often muddy. They build resilience, self-reliance and pride through doing hard things, safely and progressively.

Environmental Responsibility

We nurture a sense of awe and responsibility for the natural world. By spending time in wild places, young people learn to value and protect them, for now and for the future.

The Residential Experience

An Outward Bound centre isn’t just where you stay - it’s part of the journey. Our centres offer a warm welcome, good food, and round-the-clock care. 

They’re a home away from home, where young people build friendships, grow in independence and feel safe to be themselves.

Life at our centres

From shared meals to group reflections, these moments show what life at an Outward Bound centre really feels like.

Group of children eating snacks and chatting at a table in a bright indoor setting.
Three young women in a dorm room, with one on the top bunk and two standing by the window, sharing a light moment near red curtains.
Group of six young people sitting and standing around a wooden picnic table outdoors, eating watermelon, with a large white building and greenery in the background.
Group of children listening to a man outdoors, with modern wooden buildings and a metal tree sculpture in the background, on a partly cloudy day.
Young man in a black waterproof jacket crouches on gravel, adjusting climbing gear, surrounded by backpacks and outdoor equipment, with a wooden building in the background.

Support young people to thrive

None of this is possible without the generosity of our donors. Your support helps more young people step beyond their comfort zone, discover what they’re capable of, and carry that confidence with them for life.
Donate now
Smiling young person wearing a blue helmet and red life jacket, with two others in similar gear, outdoors near water with greenery and cloudy sky in the background.