About Reaching Higher
- Chief blogger – Board member Graham Connelly
Two separate groups of young people in the care of Scottish local authorities, together with adult supporters, took part in treks in the Gandaki region of Nepal, in sight of the Annapurna and Manaslu Himal during October and November 2009. The treks, organised by Who Cares? Scotland, were the result of two years’ planning, both in terms of logistics and also personal fitness. At Who Cares? Scotland we believe that children in care should have access to the same opportunities as other children, even where these opportunities appear aspirational to the point of being almost unattainable.
What could be more aspirational than trekking with a backdrop of the highest mountains in the world? What could be more symbolic of our aspirations for young people – and indeed their aspirations for themselves?
We expected that the treks would be physically and mentally challenging for young people and adults alike and we knew they would offer life-changing experiences. In the lead-up to the treks, we were involved in a range of fundraising events and the whole business of getting fit and equipped for the hills. Some of the participants had no previous experience of the Scottish hills and we hope they can be encouraged to maintain their interest. But the intention was never to engage in mass conversion to hillwalking, rather it was to offer a significant challenge and to provide a perspective of life at home by exposure to unfamiliar culture and surroundings. There were those who argued that we could have done this in Scotland for much less effort and money. We think they missed the point.
This blog, launched in the month preceding the treks, was planned to keep our supporters in touch with the high and low points of the adventure, and also to lure in visitors to the site who may not have heard of us or our work. Keep returning, because although the treks are over and the challenges have been met, there are still stories to be told.
In time, the Nepal Trek 2009 blog will be archived but this site will continue with its aim to communicate to a wider world about the dreams and achievements of children and young people in care.
The blogger as a trekker
The Reaching Higher Appeal grew out of Who Cares? Scotland’s 30th anniversary theme, Celebrating Success and Challenging Stigma. We asked 200 young people to tell us what success means for them and whether their success is celebrated. You can read an account of what they told us by downloading the report, Caring about Success: Young People’s Stories here.
To learn more about Who Cares? Scotland, click on the logo below to visit our main website.
Who Cares? S
cotland works at three levels. First, we provide support for individual children and young people in care that is independent of the local authorities who look after them. Secondly, we take up specific issues concerning young people in care. For example, a live issue is the different approach to pocket money adopted by councils across Scotland. Thirdly, we mount campaigns to raise awareness among politicians, professionals and the public. Currently we are campaigning against the stigmatisation of young people in care and of care leavers.
Who Cares? Scotland is committed to encouraging high aspirations for and by children and young people who are looked after by Scottish local authorities. We aim to do this in a whole range of ways, including providing opportunities for participation in education, sport, adventurous activities, music, art, drama and the governance of our organisation.
Reaching Higher is an initiative aimed at encouraging young people in care and care leavers to get opportunities to achieve in education, employment and in leisure. Currently the focus is on our Nepal Trek but we are also encouraging participation in a whole range of ways, including preparing young people as trainers and researchers, sponsoring two young people to attend the Harvard University summer school in 2010 and supporting an exchange with a project in India.
Who Cares? Scotland is part-funded by Scottish Government and our advocacy work is funded by fees paid by local authorities. However, the Reaching Higher initiative needs to be entirely funded by money raised in sponsorship. If you would like to contribute to our Nepal Trek fund - which we would very much appreciate! – please visit our JustGiving page. Thank you for your support. We hope you enjoy the blog – and return often.
Manaslu Himal - the trek destination
37 Comments to “About Reaching Higher”
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Well we made it all the way from Prestwick to Troon. The terrain was tough but we knew we could do it! Well done to Sheryl for organising the walk today. Everyone had a great time. Cathy joined us today too and is getting really excited!
Heather G
So I asked the guy about socks, how to avoid blisters. Good idea he said. Can you avoid them? I asked. Nope, he said. Walk through them he said, bit painful but the only way.
Good luck to all of the team – you will have a great time and will be truly welcomed by the himalayan people. Having climbed Mt Manaslu last year, I can vouch that you are entering an extremely remote area for westerners which will provide you with a real flavour of what the real Nepal is all about. If I can offer any advice, please ask me on your blog.
Thanks for the comment. We’d be grateful for your advice. I’ll contact you by email.
Well done all of you. I hope it is still going well- we will all be thinking of you. Really looking forward to hearing all about it!
Lots of love
Judy
Looking forward to seeing the photos, good luck
Gill
Fife
hey guys
ok sooo im not going to lie, for me personally the 1st and second days werent soo bad but the third day was bloody hellish ( sorry ) but thats at my own fault. although dont get me wrong everyone on the trip pushed my sorry bum bum up the mountain so theres plenty of support especially from serita ( nurse ). and also the end product is TOTALLY worth any discomforts you go through, that i promise 
. sorry for the bad news hope to see you all soon love loads david xxx
p.s get someone to bring a solar charger incase of battery failure and make sure to bring anti-dioareeah tablets ok . just a hint
mwah enjoy guys best of luck honest, you will love it here 
hayah dad/jeff hows uu?
havin a gd time?
emma n fair r over the day just seeing if ur okai n tht lol
c uu soon x luv uu ailsa x x x
Hi all I am just gettin this sorted before Jamie sets off on Monday !Well done hope you all had an amazing experiance !
only one more sleep Graham!!group 1 seem to have had an amazing time ..hope we do too.Did you get our photos from steve????????
heather h
OK Group 2. It’s our turn next! Up bright & early all of you. Double check that luggage weight & make sure you’ve all got enough muesli bars.Set your alarms & get ready to do some serious mileage. Whether you are travelling the first leg to Heathrow by bus, train or plane go with good hearts and strong legs, oh yeah don’t forget pack plenty of spare pants! See you there, see you soon!!
Team 2 have a great time, am looking forward to your blogs and remember lots and lots of photos x
Om Nama Shiva Ya
janice – missing yer fiddle yet? your not missing anything here have a ball and stay safe! deirdre
Hi Luke and Michael,
Hope all is well and you are not too sore. Sorry to hear about the delay on the way out, I hope it was not too long.
David
Luke Burgess, hope you’re not eating biscuits out there you rascal!!!! Take care guys, Stephanie xx
Hi Michael and Luke.
Hope your having a great time. Sounds like you had a lovely welcome at the school.
I know Luke already has all his Xmas pressies in but 1 and is looking for something nice for me in Nepal!!!!
May
Hi Anthony, its your big sister here!!!! missing you lots and so is mum, love you and see you soon. Dont forget the pressy….xxxxxxxxx
Tell Don we all miss him aswell xx
HI Don and Anthony, hope you are having a great experience, we all cant wait to hear all the wonderful stories from your trip!!!!!!
from all the children and staff at Netherton x
SEE YOU SOON
Hey Dad
Cant see you in many pictures! Hope your having a great time! Let us know how its going.
Lots of Love Kara xx
Well done Luke – have got some updates and so proud of you!! Michael you deserve a star award.
Take Care
Dawn
Hi Paul
Looking forward to hearing about your trip love Annette and John
hi anthony and don,
Hope you guys have had a great time, looking forward to hearing your stories.
Amanda
hi luke and michael
how are you?
look forward to hearing all abotu the triop and seeign your photos . well done
patricia
Congratulations to George and Colin from all of the team here at the Junction. Looking forward to seeing you both back safely tomorrow and hearing all the stories and seeing all the pictures.
Congratulations to George and Colin from all of the team here at the Junction. Looking forward to seeing you both back safely tomorrow and hearing all the stories and seeing all the pictures.
Congratulations to Leona you DID IT. All the heartake and tears during the last year of training for this amazing adventure has been worth it. WE are so proud of your achievement!! Billy cant wait to see you, he keeps saying that this walk is taking ages. Also congratulations to the rest of the Dundee team, George, Barbara & Colin
Congratulations to Dundee Group Barbara, Leona, George & Colin You did great.
Congratulations to Barbara, Leona, George & Colin
Hi all Niall Gratton here finally feeling back to normal, had a great time and look forward to seeing you all again. OKAY DOKEY !!!
Well done Colin and George. Proud of you both,it’s an experience niether of you will forget.
\bob \gilchrist
A mention for the Chief Blogger who has done an amazing job on the site and shown a tremendous committment to getting the message across about the yoing peoples experiences and to looking at what we can continue to do both back in Scotland and in Nepal The Journey hasnt ended it will go on
hey everyone i am so happy that everyone did it and i hope i see yous all another time have a great life
nicola xxxx
Great to hear from you Nicola. It was an amazing achievement – everyone out there, around the trek and back with no mishaps.
well there was a little bit of mishaps hahaha!
hi Nicola….how are your feet????????apart from them sharing with you was great!are you still doing a bit of walking…hope so.Maybe catch up with you one day
Heather
great to see you all at the reunion…good luck in the next venture guys.
Namaste.
the hatten