Outward Bound aim to increase the number of women in their instructional teams by launching Outdoor Leadership courses in October.
Only 20% of Outward Bound’s instructors are women despite 50% of their participants being women. The courses will cover areas such as Rock Climbing, Paddlesports and Summer Mountain climbing.
The programme has emerged from research (both academic and practitioner based) from within and outside the outdoor sector. In a 2017 study, Camber Outdoors identified five potential hurdles with respect to gender equity and women’s leadership: Workplace values, leadership and advancement opportunities, balancing family and career, equity in compensation and discrimination and sexual harassment.
There will be eight places available for the ten-week programme, taking place in Ullswater Centre. Aimed at those working towards a qualification in outdoors instructing, this programme entails a £500 deposit that Outward Bound will re-invest into the cost of formal testing towards any qualifications within 12-months of completion. Accommodation, food and kit will be provided.
The Outward Bound Trust is a not-for-profit educational charity and provides bursaries of over £3m to young people every year. They are the UK’s leading provider of bursary-assisted outdoor learning.
You can find more information on Outward Bound’s actions to achieve gender equality here.
For information on the course and instructions on how to apply for a place, visit outwardbound.org.uk
