Jordan Wylie MBE urges pupils to embrace new challenges

Jordan Wylie MBE is backing The Outward Bound Trust's Big Shake-Up, which urges pupils, parents and teachers to adopt an 'adventure mindset' as the new school year begins. The campaign launches as around 9.65 million children return to school across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, while charity-commissioned research suggests parents may be more stressed than their children. Mr Wylie said: "I'm proud to support The Outward Bound Trust's Big Shake-Up and encourage pupils, parents and teachers to bring an adventure mindset into the classroom, the same mindset we use in the outdoors every day. Lily and Jordan Wylie MBE (Image: Howard Bowden) "It means staying curious, stepping beyond our comfort zones and seeing every challenge not as a barrier, but as an opportunity to learn, grow and discover what we're capable of." The Outward Bound Trust developed the Big Shake-Up to use adventure and challenge to build young people's confidence and resilience. The campaign offers games and practical activities to help classes reconnect after the summer holidays, try new things, support classmates and reflect on acts of courage. Natalie Harling, the charity's director of business development, said many families suffer 'summer's over' anxiety when schools reopen. She said: "The clear message from our teachers is that there's plenty of parental apprehension and 'summer's over' anxiety right now which filters down to the children as everyone seeks to get back into the new routine." (Image: Jordan Wylie) Child psychologist Nina Darsadze said returning to school is a transition for the whole family, not just the children. Parents must prepare bags and uniforms while adapting to new routines, arranging childcare and transport, covering extra costs and helping children settle into new classrooms. The Outward Bound Trust hopes the campaign will give schools, parents and pupils more confidence and optimism at the start of term. The charity runs outdoor learning programmes across the UK and is trialling an in-school programme in the North West to give more young people access to its approach. Mr Wylie will be speaking about adventure and the great outdoors at the Lights in Andover on September 22, with tickets up for sale on: thelights.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth