Kieran Mullan MP visits PGL Beyond’s Windmill Hill centre to see how outdoor learning and employment opportunities can help break down barriers to opportunity

Dr Kieran Mullan MP visited PGL Beyond’s Windmill Hill centre in East Sussex to see first-hand how residential outdoor learning and educational experiences beyond the classroom are helping young people build confidence, resilience and aspiration.

During the visit, Dr Mullan met with representatives from PGL Beyond and The Purpose Coalition to discuss the organisation’s work to widen access to formative experiences for young people, particularly those from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds.

The visit highlighted how outdoor learning can support personal development, wellbeing and social mobility, while also contributing to local communities through place-based delivery and employment. Discussions also focused on PGL Beyond’s role as an employer, including how it supports social mobility through accessible recruitment, skills development and opportunities for career progression.

PGL Beyond, the Uk’s largest educational travel provider reaches almost 500,000 young people each year and delivers around 290,000 outdoor activity sessions and 3,800 study tours annually. Its work is increasingly focused on helping young people develop the skills and self-belief needed to thrive in education, life and work. 

The visit also showcased PGL Beyond’s commitment to widening access to opportunity through initiatives such as the Breakthrough Fund, which has supported 17,086 pupils with £2.2 million in funding, helping 375 schools and enabling 540 free experiences for children and young people who might otherwise have missed out. 

Dr Kieran Mullan MP said:

“It was a pleasure to visit PGL Beyond at Windmill Hill and meet Jack from The Purpose Coalition and Rhiannon from PGL Beyond to hear more about the organisation’s work.

“Opportunities beyond the classroom can have a lasting impact, particularly for young people who may otherwise miss out. It was also valuable to discuss how PGL Beyond supports social mobility not only through these experiences for young people, but also through its role as an employer, creating opportunities for skills development, progression and access to work.”

Rhiannon Davies, General Manager of PGL Beyond Windmill Hill, said:

“We were delighted to welcome Dr Kieran Mullan MP to Windmill Hill and to show him our work in practice.

“At PGL Beyond, we believe every young person should have access to experiences that help them grow in confidence, build resilience and broaden their horizons. It was a valuable opportunity to highlight how our work supports young people, schools and communities, and how we can also contribute to social mobility through the opportunities we create as an employer.”