REMOUNT 26.

BRATHAY TRUST: 28 – 31 OCTOBER 2011.

Remount 26 formed up on a bright Friday afternoon at the Charities’ centre of excellence Brathay Trust on the outskirts of Ambleside in the Lake District. The course was attended by 12 members: six (3-from each) came from Ex-service hostels in Durham and Catterick. There was a serving soldier and his wife, a member of the TA, a serving Captain and an ex-soldier now working as a civil servant and finally a serving soldier from Aldershot. This eclectic mix of delegates’ ages ranged from 18 yrs old to 50 yrs old!

After lunch and introductions the group were introduced to the concept of Remount and what it was hoped individuals might gain from it, and then it was off to undertake their first group exercise.

Highlights of the course would be the approach of the individuals; the majority of this course initially had serious reservations about the benefit of Remount to them. Some had never undertaken many of the activities before, yet, they soon mastered the basic skills to undertake with varying levels of confidence: canoeing, low and high ropes challenges, a clue find on Lake Windermere in Whaler rowing boats. These activities were interspersed with juggling, a tube dash, models depicting the communications triangle, a learning model and crucially the comfort, stretch, panic model with the emphasis being placed on never entering the panic sphere! The torrential rain of most of Saturday, Sunday and Monday although not a highlight was a course aspect that won’t be forgotten!

The group were visited on Sunday by Darren Bickerstaffe, the project manager of the Early Service Leavers trial – Future Horizons – due to begin at Catterick on 3 January 2012.

Remount 26 was a success with candidates leaving with the knowledge and practice of attributes aimed at helping them with their future choices. The delivery team of Paul, Simon, Robin and the author Richard Wilson wish all those that attended the very best for their future. There will be challenges and set-backs but they now have a multitude of skills and revisited qualities to help them make informed decisions.