Sprayway is proud to mark their 10th year of partnership with Lindley Educational Trust, supporting its Winter Skills Project to provide life-changing adventurous experiences for young people from some of the UK’s most disadvantaged areas. Since 2016, Sprayway has helped fund this unique programme, which culminates in a week- long winter mountaineering expedition in the Cairngorms.
Lindley Educational Trust has 60 years of experience in helping young people develop confidence, resilience, and life skills to reach their full potential. Their work with Ashton and Pitsmoor Youth Clubs ensures that young people from underrepresented and diverse backgrounds get access to outdoor learning, fostering personal growth and strengthening communities.
“Lindley’s youthwork is unique as we deliver so much more than weekly sessions and the occasional residential,” said Mark Williams, Head of Centres for Lindley Educational Trust. “We offer a progressive series of interventions that take children and young people on a journey of adventure that for many take them from primary school age into adulthood. We place a massive emphasis on developing the skills and confidence of local people and this has resulted in youth workers and activity instructors coming from the diverse communities we serve. Many were young people who attended Lindley’s youthwork and now want to give something back. This means that Lindley is lucky to be one of the very few providers who have instructors who come from ethnically diverse backgrounds and they are great role models, who understand the cultural and religious needs of the community.”
Sprayway’s support focuses on the Winter Skills Project, a 6-9 month programme that equips young people with outdoor skills, leadership experience, and an understanding of teamwork and perseverance. The project culminates in an expedition to the Cairngorms during February half-term, where participants take on challenging winter conditions, learning essential skills such as ice axe and crampon use, and winter navigation.
Creating Role Models and Expanding Horizons
What sets this programme apart is the connection between the participants and their instructors. Many of the youth workers and leaders guiding these expeditions once participated in Lindley’s programmes themselves, making them powerful and relatable role models for the next generation.
This year’s expedition saw 16 young people from Ashton and Pitsmoor Youth Clubs stay at Glenmore Youth Hostel for a week of adventure. Despite extreme conditions, including 80mph gusts and -18°C windchill, the group demonstrated incredible resilience and determination, tackling their first Scottish winter experience with confidence and enthusiasm.
More Than Just an Expedition
The Winter Skills Project is about far more than a week of Scottish winter mountaineering. It provides lasting benefits, including:
- Personal development – Increased confidence, resilience, and self-belief.
- Widened horizons – Helping young people realise their potential and develop aspirations for the
- Pre-employment skills – Communication, teamwork, and problem-solving
- Community impact – Building trust across cultures and creating inspiring role
- A lifelong connection to the outdoors – Many participants go on to gain outdoor qualifications and encourage others in their communities to get
Looking Ahead
Sprayway remains committed to supporting Lindley Educational Trust and ensuring that more young people continue to benefit from these experiences. The partnership has helped hundreds of young people from diverse backgrounds access the outdoors, and its impact will continue to grow.
Adam Younghusband, Marketing Executive at Sprayway, commented: “I was fortunate enough to spend time with this year’s group in the Cairngorms, and I was blown away by their determination and resilience. These are young people who would never usually have access to experiences like this, and yet they tackled extreme conditions head-on. Seeing them learn and grow, guided by youth workers who have come through the same projects, is truly inspiring. We’re incredibly proud to have supported this programme for 10 years and look forward to continuing our partnership with Lindley Educational Trust.”
For more information about Lindley Educational Trust and how you can support their work, visit www.lindleyeducationaltrust.org
