PGL Beyond launches Impact Report at the House of Commons, highlighting the role of learning beyond the classroom in breaking down barriers to opportunity

PGL Beyond has launched its Beyond Impact Report at the House of Commons, bringing together Parliamentarians, education leaders, delivery partners and members of the Purpose Coalition to examine how enrichment and experiential learning can support social mobility across the UK.

The launch provided an opportunity to reflect on the progress PGL Beyond has made, alongside its plans for the year ahead.

The PGL Beyond Impact Report, developed in partnership with the Purpose Coalition, sets out the organisation’s social impact across the UK, with a particular focus on supporting young people to build confidence, develop life skills and access opportunity through learning beyond the classroom. The report is framed against the Purpose Goals, demonstrating how place-based partnerships and intentional design can help break down barriers to opportunity and support social mobility.

The report highlights the role of outdoor and experiential learning in addressing multiple challenges facing young people, including confidence, wellbeing and employability, and shows how learning beyond the classroom can complement academic education to deliver positive outcomes over the long term.

Speaking at the launch, Anthony Jones, Chief Executive of PGL Beyond, said:

“Learning beyond the classroom can be transformational, particularly for young people who face barriers to opportunity. This report sets out the impact PGL Beyond is delivering across the UK, but also our ambition to go further, working with partners to ensure that experiences which build confidence, resilience and life skills are accessible to more young people, whatever their circumstances.”

Rt Hon Justine Greening, Chair of the Purpose Coalition, said:

“Education in its widest sense is key to unlocking the talent and aspirations of young people, whatever their background. I was delighted to attend the launch of PGL Beyond's new report, developed with The Purpose Coalition, which clearly demonstrates how it is continuing to leverage scale and intentionality to ensure that the experiences it offers really change lives. It provides clear evidence of the positive results of an organisation truly embedding purpose into its core mission and committing to measurable action on opportunity. "

Andy MacNae MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Outdoor Recreation and Access to Nature, aaid:

“Outdoor experiences play a vital role in supporting young people’s confidence, wellbeing and life chances. The PGL Beyond Impact Report shows why access to enrichment and learning beyond the classroom matters, and why the challenge for policymakers is not whether this works, but how we ensure more young people, in more places, can benefit.”

Attendees heard directly from those delivering impact on the ground and received copies of the report. The event brought together Parliamentarians, sector leaders and delivery partners to discuss how enrichment, personal development and education beyond the classroom can support young people and communities across the UK.

The event included reflections on how the findings of the report can inform future policy, partnership and practice, and how collaboration across Parliament, education and industry can help ensure opportunity is something that is built deliberately, not left to chance.

Read the Impact Report here.