This month we’ve spoken to Andy Spink at Hebridean Pursuits to find out a bit more about the organisation and what they do.
What do you/your organisation do?
I am the co-founder of Hebridean Pursuits Ltd est 1989 and the Roses Charitable Trust est 1992. My role is Managing Director, Technical Adviser and Senior Instructor. Hebridean Pursuits provides experienced and highly qualified outdoor learning activities on behalf of The Roses Charitable Trust. We offer specialist residential experiences for young people from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds and organisations on The Roses Project. We are primarily based at our centre base in Glencoe. Hebridean Pursuits also facilitates specialist technical adventure activities such as mountain guiding and coasteering and specialist training to the wider industry.
How long have you been an AIM Member?
AIM can confirm that Hebridean Pursuits have been a member with the Mutual since 2010
What’s the best part of your job?
The variety of the working day and weeks. The challenge of each piece of work being built around the client’s specific requirements. The clients themselves. The seasonal adaptions and the physical challenges of guiding the activities.
What issues do you think the industry faces this year?
The increasing uncertainty and fluctuation in seasonal conditions is hard to predict and therefore plan for bookings. The ongoing cuts in funding for youth projects, schools and third sector voluntary organisations is a concern. Outdoor education and learning is crucial for the wellness, wealth fair and health of young people and adults but unfortunately over the years front-line services for young people is the first to be cut.
What benefits have you gained from being an AIM Member?
Reassurance that in the event of an accident and associated issues occurring we would be supported by AIM. AIM understands the nature of the outdoor industry and believes in the benefits of risk. AIM also give excellent value.
What exciting projects do you have lined up for the future
The Roses Charitable Trust is always open to enquiries from new groups and organisations. We need young people to offer unique experiences too. We are very interested to build on the recent successful work with groups who work with those with Autism. Combining outdoor activity experiences with an arts based theme has proven very popular. We continue to work with our loyal and regular clients, but we do require more young people to take up possible funding we have to facilitate Roses Project residential work.
What’s your favourite activity?
That is difficult to say. With groups it has to be Coasteering for it’s honesty, variety, interest and true adventure. On more technical level Winter Climbing Guiding will always be at the top of my list. And running up mountains has become a firm favourite.
What activity do you want to try?
It would be awesome to return to Paragliding one day!
We’d like to thank Andy for providing us with a great interview.
You can read about some of our other member’s here:-
