Institute for Outdoor Learning

This Autumn, the Institute will run a series of webinars aimed at supporting Freelance Practitioners and Sole Traders, including:

💷 A Guide to Tax and Accountancy with Steph Taylor, AAT & ATT qualified Tax Adviser with over nine years of supporting small business and self-employed individuals.
⚖️ Balancing Burnout and Brilliance - Self Care for Freelancers with Sara Jane Murray, Training, Research and Consultancy Manager at Bendrigg Trust and a qualified compassion fatigue and resilience trainer.
🛣️ Alternative Provision: Demand, Delivery, and the Road Ahead with Mike King, founder and CEO of Releasing Potential.
🌄 What it Means to be Self-Employed - The Practicalities of You as a Business with Elspeth Mason BSc PGCE LPIOL, Founder of Mere Mountains
🛟 When the Buck Stops with You - It Can Feel Lonely - with Tim Morton, Head of Service at Adventure RMS, the Adventure Activity consultancy and inspectorate appointed by AALA.
⛺ Introduction to working on DofE programmes for AAP's with DofE Manager Andy Godfrey and DofE Expedition Supervisor and Assessor Jo Tucker from Lupine Adventure Co-operative
📊 Benchmarking your Practice with Dave Harvey, founder of consultancy, research and training organisation, Dave Harvey Outdoor Learning.

All webinars are FREE to IOL Members or £95 to access to all events or £25 per event.

🔗 Join IOL today: https://www.outdoor-learning.org/join-us.html
🔗 Info and bookings: https://bit.ly/3U9CiGi

Join us for a great outdoor learning conference themed on What is Happening Outdoors in Scotland today.
Open to both members and non-members of IOL.
Early bird rates until August 31st.
https://www.outdoor-learning.org/news-events/ems-event-calendar/iol-scotland-conference.html

'The IOL is pleased to support the excellent work of the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, including supporting high quality outdoor learning with educators. The IOL endorses the aim of CLOtC to ensure every child has access to meaningful, enriching real‑world learning experiences. This conference is a valuable day for to network together, whatever your role in learning outside the classroom.' - Joanne Barnett IOL CEO

Council for Learning Outside the Classroom

https://www.lotc.org.uk/clotc-national-conference-2026/

https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/66354

If you value equitable access to outdoor learning, please ask your local MP to sign this Early Day Motion (EDM) , tabled by Tim Farron MP.

The IOL and AHOEC were asked for help by the Friends of High Borrans Young Leaders who are campaigning for a public consultation to consider options for outdoor education/learning for the children and young people of this Borough.

The IOL, AHOEC, CLOtC and AAOLEV (OEAP) have written to North Tyneside Council offering support in exploring alternative viable and sustainable operational models.

AHOEC - The Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres

Closure of High Borrans Outdoor Education Centre - Early Day Motions - UK Parliament That this House regrets the decision by North Tyneside Council to close High Borrans Outdoor Education Centre in Windermere in November 2026; notes that High Borrans has provided vital outdoor learning experiences for thousands of children and young people living in urban and disadvantaged areas sin...

Campaigners fighting to save an outdoor education centre fear the next generation of youngsters will miss out on developing key skills that will guide them throughout the rest of their lives.

Institute for Outdoor Learning CEO Jo Barnett, Head of Centre at High Borrans Outdoor Education between 2004 and 2016, launched the Young Leaders project and says it was "all about supporting the transition from school to work".

"At the time, North Tyneside had 10% of young people aged 18 to 25 not in education, employment or training (NEET) and the national average was 8%, so it was about using outdoor learning to develop essential skills.

A petition calling for the centre to remain open has been launched with Donkin, Andrews and their campaign counterparts aiming to secure 2,000 signatures in order to trigger a debate at a council meeting next week.

https://democracy.northtyneside.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=22

High Borrans Outdoor Centre closure 'will hit next generation' Campaigners are continuing their fight to save High Borrans at Windermere in the Lake District.