Life of Youth in Britain
Young people from all walks of
life are united according to their interests by the established youth
organizations in Britain. These organizations develop because of the
contribution of both full-time and part-time youth workers and a great number
of volunteers.
Outdoor pursuits involve
anything from pony trekking to rock-climbing or canoeing and help young people
go out from the confines of their home or their environment. Such pursuits
nourish a spirit of self-reliance and help realize the importance of team-work
under a good leadership. All the major youth organizations hold outdoor
pursuits either by organizing special residential courses or by sending their
members to take part in established courses or seminars in other cities and
countries.
Local authorities and a number
of multipurpose youth organizations provide the place for such activities as
canoeing, sailing, rock-climbing, map reading, orienteering and cooking for
survival; all of them encourage initiative and self-discipline.
Among providers of outdoor
places are the Sports Council, the Outward-Bound Trust, the Ocean Youth Club,
the Sail Training Association, and the Nautical Training Corps.
The Outward-Bound Trust is the
longest established and most experienced organization in Britain based on
outdoor pursuits, personal development, and training. It has five centres in
the English Lake District, Wales, and Scotland. It operates in 38 other
countries of the world. It has centres in Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.
This organization is based on two simple principles: firstly, that everyone is
capable of achieving more than he might imagine, and, secondly, that too few
people have a real appreciation of what can be achieved by team-work and mutual
support.
Young people participate in
'expedition courses' lasting 8, 12, or 20 days and involving adventurous
journeys by land or sea. There are also 'specialist courses' for young people
aged 17 and over to become involved in work with such groups as the homeless, the
elderly, and the disabled.
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