Adventure starts in the playground

“I didn’t know I could lead,” said Kerris, still holding a length of rope.

A few minutes earlier, she’d been shouting instructions across to her classmates. Her team were trying to chart their own crossing of a challenging and obstacle-filled estuary by canoe. She looked nervous at first, then she found her voice. By the end, she was calm and confident. Beaming.

Kerris is only eleven years old, and she’s not standing on the banks of the Dyfi estuary in Wales. She’s actually at Old Hall Drive Academy in Gorton, Manchester.

Because today, this patch of astroturf has become something else entirely... Outward Bound has brought the adventure to her.

Why Manchetser?

Because this is where it matters most.

The latest #BeeWell survey tells us that young people in Greater Manchester report lower confidence and wellbeing than most of their peers across England. And in Gorton, safe green space is hard to come by.

Old Hall Drive Academy sits in the middle of that map, a place full of energy and potential, but where opportunities to explore and take safe risks are limited. Recently, the headlines have told tough stories about life here, but on this day, the story looked different:

“Our children face a lot of pressures outside of school. Days like this give them a chance to try, fail, laugh and learn about themselves. Said Headteacher, Hayley Brooker

You could see the joy in their faces and their confidence building with every task, even the quietest pupils found their voice. It’s been so incredible to watch.”

Turning the playground into a classroom

The morning starts quietly: A few giggles and some uncertain looks. Then the first challenge begins.

By mid-morning, the place is alive with movement and teams screaming and shouting encouragement. Laughter bounced around the playground, and instructors gently nudged quieter voices forward.

Among them is Leo Houlding: Climber, father, and Outward Bound Trustee.

Fresh from his own family adventures where he recently scaled Yosemite's El Capitan with his 8 and 11-year-old children, he is no stranger to adventure. But today he was there not just to inspire, but to roll his sleeves up and get stuck in, helping tie knots, offer a steady hand and listen as pupils explained their plans.

“Adventure teaches you that things won’t always go right, and that’s okay. What matters is how you respond, who you trust, and how you keep going. Leo said.

Watching these young people today, you could see that spark of self-discovery starting to grow. It might start in a playground, but it can take them anywhere.”

Anything is possible

School Adventures is now piloting across the northwest of England and is supported by The Goyal Foundation’s Inner Spark programme. Their goal is simple: help young people discover their own strength.

By the end of the session, Kerris' group are sitting in a giant pink deckchair reflecting on what they’ve learned. The answers come quickly. “Teamwork.” “Not giving up.” “Being brave.” When asked what they’d do next time, Kerris doesn’t hesitate: “Go further.”

And that’s the point.

Once you’ve felt what you can achieve, you want to do more and start to believe that anything is possible.

A first step to the wild

School Adventures is starting out as a pilot programme across the northwest of England from October 2025.

For Outward Bound, this is a statement of intent: Making sure every young person can access the kind of learning that lasts a lifetime, not just those who can afford it or have national parks nearby. If we succeed, it will be rolled out across the UK as a stepping stone to bigger adventures. 

Because adventure shouldn’t depend on where you live, and if courage can start on a concrete playground in Manchester, it can take you anywhere.

Hit the button below to find out how School Adventures can help your school build confidence, connection and resilience.