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Celebrating 30 years!

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03-Nov-2021

Celebrating 30 years

Dear friends,

To celebrate our 30th anniversary in 2022, we'll be introducing a host of special offers, discounts on selected trips and more. Let's enjoy the moment together - all the more so after enduring some of the most challenging of times over the last couple of years. We'd love to reminisce and hear your stories, as well as to discuss your future plans, so please do get in touch, just as soon as you are ready.

After 30 years, you think that you've seen it all before - but of course, you never have! Still, what a journey it’s been so far!

It all began with a fax machine in a spare-bedroom, but the challenges were relative. No-one had mobile connectivity back in the good old days. ‘Mad Cow disease’ briefly raised its ugly head, so to speak, and there have been so many storms both real and metaphorical that it’s hard to remember them all. Exchange rate collapses, ash clouds, Millennium computer scares, 9/11 and Brexit included. All in the life before Covid-19.

Despite everything that the coronavirus has thrown at us, will bounce back better, stronger and more dynamic than ever before. As many of our teams will confirm, there will always be highs and lows in sport, in business and in life. I’ve looked after teams in European Cup finals and both won and lost. I know which feels better!

As the founder of a family-owned, longstanding independent company, I am fiercely proud of the team we have here, our ethos, passion and integrity. It is a privilege to work with a great group of people here at home and beyond, our suppliers and colleagues both near and far. But it’s also a source of huge pride and comfort that we have so many fabulous customers. Thank you for your loyalty, friendship and support and long may that continue.

The benefits of residential trips have been well documented elsewhere, but in the present climate we should remind ourselves of what we do and why we do it. Trips and tours transform the learning experience of young people and raise their aspirations. These opportunities promote resilience, risk, reward and responsibility which in turn lead to greater achievement, attainment, engagement, motivation, diversification, teambuilding, enhanced wellbeing, a sense of belonging and an increased self-confidence. If that’s not enough, they also open the door to new activities, new friendships, new life skills as well as an introduction to new cultures, new climates, new countries and new challenges. We learn more about ourselves and others when away from home, outside of our comfort-zone and in a new environment.

We are all needing to focus on the challenges of the here and now. But our joy must be in building for the future; to make a difference, planning for the next adventure. We're all looking forward to the next part of the journey and hope that you can join us too.

With thanks and all best wishes,

Ashley