A GROUP of mixed ability students from the Sixth Form of The Heathland School, Hounslow, were recently given the opportunity to experience life away from the TV, the microwave and the Playstation, when leading non-standard insurance intermediary, The Allen and Allen Group, sponsored an Outward Bound project.

The students, all aged between 16 and 18, were treated to four days of high adventure in the picturesque setting of Aberdovey, Wales, where they were asked to set aside the comforts of home in the interest of broadening their horizons and testing themselves against the elements.

The weekend, hosted by the award winning organisation Outward Bound Wales, included rock climbing, kayaking, walking, swimming and nerve testing high ropes and trapeze courses.

In addition, the group and their accompanying teachers spent their first night in Wales fending for themselves in an unheated, unlit log cabin, located in Snowdonia National Park.

Designed to teach participants the skills of teamwork and self dependency and to pursue the idea that everyone is capable of achieving more than they realise, the course pushed each and every student to challenge themselves and gave them the opportunity to experience things not readily available in the areas in which they live.

Speaking after completing the trapeze course himself, a slightly dizzy Dan Collins, of The Heathland School's History Department and Group leader for the weekend, commented: "The four day course has provided the students with a great opportunity to get away from reality television and computer games and has challenged each and every one of them to ask how far they can push themselves. Such experiences will stand the students in good stead as they look to their lives beyond school. I hope that this will become a regular outing and that everyone of our party will take something away from this weekend."

For The Allen and Allen Group, this was an opportunity to give back to the local community and to highlight some of the principles key to its own success, Tony Allen, Chief Executive explained: "By facilitating the Outward Bound Course, we hope to bring home to the students the importance of team work and the need to strive to achieve the very best that they can.

"It is also important to us that we are able to work with local young people. Many of our staff are drawn from a catchment area that includes Hounslow and a number even attended The Heathland School."

The Allen and Allen Group is always looking for young adventurers to join its dedicated staff of insurance professionals. For more information visit www.allenandallengroup.com or contact Ria Doran on 0208 939 3932.