Trekking company and council form new social enterprise venture

Dec 1 2009 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

A SCHEME to offer disadvantaged people in Perth and Kinross whole new horizons is being supported by the local authority.

Trekking Encounters, which has its UK office in Beaumont House in Perth’s St John's Place, is a specialist provider of treks and expeditions to the Himalayas and Nepal.

The company has become involved with two social schemes in Nepal – the Bright Land school in Kathmandu, and KEEP (Kathmandu Environmental Education Project) – and this has led to the formation of a new social enterprise scheme which will help disadvantaged people in Perth and Kinross gain employment skills in a unique way.

Discussions between Perth and Kinross Council and Trekking Encounters identified a common goal and strong wish to help people of all ages to build their self esteem, self worth and confidence through challenging activities in and around Perth and eventually in Nepal.

Initially the company will work with local support organisations to identify 12 people whom it is felt will benefit most from the scheme.

To prepare the participants, Trekking Encounters will lead a series of adventure workshops to equip each person with the right mindset and attitude to meet the challenge ahead.

The participants will walk the Cateran Trail, which runs through Blairgowrie and East Perthshire, in stages. At the end of that experience, each person will receive a signed certificate marking the end of their first journey and the start of their ultimate aim – to undertake a trek to Everest Base Camp in October 2010, and while in Nepal, to also get actively involved in the Bright Land school and KEEP.

Local councillor Bob Ellis, who is supporting the project through his involvement with the Cateran Trail, met Sue Williams from Trekking Encounters, and MSP for North Tayside John Swinney, and described the scheme as “a fantastic idea.”

He added: “Working closely together, the Council and Trekking Encounters will give a life-changing opportunity to people in our local communities. This is a very different way of helping and motivating people back into employment and I will be giving every support I can to the project.”

Mr Swinney added: “Social enterprise is an excellent method of developing new business and employment activity. I am delighted to see this developing in East Perthshire and I am sure this will make an excellent contribution to the local economy.’’