IMAGES: RICHARD PENCOTT
The North Face has been synonymous with
the great outdoors for decades, helping
adventurers from around the world tackle
inscrutable challenges with it’s award-
winning products and clothing range.
Since 2010, the company has funded
hundreds of non-profit organisations under
themes of ‘Enabling Exploration’ and
‘Loving Wild Places’.
Now, as part of The Explore Fund that’s
being rolled out in the UK, Germany and
Italy, The North Face has launched a
new project making adventure accessible
for everyone, especially children from
underprivileged communities in urban
areas. The project is in partnership with
The Outward Bound Trust — a charity
dedicated to teaching children life lessons
through nature — and gives opportunitiesto explore the wonders of the UK’s
wilderness through confidence-boosting
activities such as kayaking, hiking, rowing
and orienteering, all in a bid to encourage
equality and ignite a passion for the great
outdoors. Both brands are passionate about
adventure as a means of self-growth, and
believe it should be for everyone, not just for
those who can access or afford it.
This follows last year’s successful
campaign, She Moves Mountains, where
girls from Sarah Bonnell School in east
London headed to Cumbria for an weekend
of outdoor challenges. Here, we look back
at a trip from February this year, where
around 35 students from City Academy
in Hackney headed to North Wales for a
resilience-testing few days, and find out
what the experience meant for them.THE CHILDREN’S VIEW
Neesha Davis, aged
12: “This is a totally new
experience for me. I’ve never
done anything like hiking or
canoeing. I really enjoyed
making new friends and
learning new things.”
Favourite activity:
Canoeing as well as walking
up a mini waterfall.Stephanie Adusei, aged
12: “I love how different
it is in Wales [compared]
to home; how much space
there is and the lack of
buildings. I could definitely
live here, but I’d miss being
so close to Primark.”
Favourite activity:
Scrambling.Farrell Governor, aged
14: “I’ve been on the trip
before, but I loved it so
much that I applied to come
back. I enjoy not having
[electronic] devices and
just being able to read and
experience the outdoors.”
Favourite activity:
Camping.Jack Day, physics
teacher at City
Academy: “It’s a
great environment
to spend time with
your pupils. It amazes
me to see how much
effort the kids put
into the trip, which
is often the opposite
of what we see in
school! I personally
love being outdoors
as I’m originally from
Yorkshire. The trip
creates a shared
cultural touchstone
with the kids that we
wouldn’t otherwise
have and I use that
back in the classroom.
It’s also a leveller for
me and the kids — we
all have a go at the
same activities and
camp together.”Students rock climbing
OPPOSITE PAGE: Students
from City Academy, Hackney
rock climbing in the Lake
District and canoeing in WalesPARTNER CONTENT FOR THE NORTH FACEFor more information on The North Face and Outward Bound Trust, visit thenorthface.co.uk