Welcome message from the founders!

Thank you for visiting GRIT!

We hope to meet you soon and earn your trust and respect. Trust and respect for us are the foundations of every relationship and every learning environment.

We have been hillwalking, adventuring and exploring all our lives, and experienced a variety of different environments and terrains. The discipline, resilience, and commitment needed to train for and complete big challenges directly shapes how we teach and work with young people; and how we pass that mindset on.

Our approach is always to consistently set the highest standards for ourselves , live our values every day and consistently show up for others.

Why adventure and the outdoors? Adventure and the outdoors can genuinely connect, heal and inspire us. They release negative energy and bring a buzz. We want to help young people safely enjoy the outdoors, build resilience, and elevate their communities.

Adventure and the outdoors has helped us both live a life that is fulfilling, meaningful and happy! Education, to us, is more than walls and grades - it is a catalyst for change and optimism. We have seen that in Africa, in the immense hope and pride, we encountered. We have been inspired by the kindness, ambition, generosity, sincere hospitality and deep concern and love for their country and people in Michael, Chui and Phil.

When we were younger we went out to try and get lost, climb a tree, and attempt ridiculous challenges together but now find frequent encounters with teenagers pressured to wanting to be vloggers, bloggers, insta models tragic. Outdoors is where there is truly no walls for curiosity and creativity! It is where real skills, friendships and memories grow.

Why the name? We believe in living in relentless pursuit of your values in all situations - for us, GRIT, serves as our compass. Life is about the why and fulfilment from within, over the what!

We believe that it is outside the walls of a classroom you are truly educated and grow an adventure and growth mindset - risk, first aid, negotiation, leadership, cultural empathy, resilience and confidence. It is no surprise that communities with a scout or cadet group have lower crime and better health: people gain a sense of belonging and self belief - and a sense that they can make a positive impact, as themselves - whilst being accountable for choices.

Why our camps, courses and coaching? We are on a sincere mission that young people do not leave school unhealthy and uninspired. They are under immense pressure. It is an incredibly tough time with teenagers spending more time inside than out and on screens than off them facing constant comparison and online noise. The everyday struggles of life are causing epidemic levels of anxiety, and traditional education looks much the same as how our parents and grandparents were taught.

Schools are under huge time pressure to deliver courses, complete paperwork and with large classes. Online trolling and comparison culture, is not healthy - it is constant, fake and dangerous - and the outcomes will not improve without something different.

Anyone with a platform or serving as an educator has a responsibility to pump out positive encouraging messages. For us that means championing the benefits of being in nature and of genuine human connections. Young people are full of untapped potential - they will leave school to make the world a better place; adding to society.

Education is about pushing and supporting each of them to realise this potential, flourish outside the classroom, and grow their mental and physical wellbeing.

What can ILM and DoE provide? We had valuable perspectives as essentially managing teenage behaviour daily - as teachers, and camp staff - to see clearly what young people need.

Future generations need resilience, problem solving and adaptability. The world is moving at a relentless pace - full of tough decisions and challenges - life is complex and tough. Young people need to struggle, learn, embrace resilience and personal growth.

Mental health should not be a given and education should not be tunnel vision on results. For healthy and future generation ready kids, education needs to evolve to get the best out of them, young people to learn how to funnel ADHD, not be about being in a classroom tunnel visioned on results, alone. 

Qualifications and frameworks like ILM and DoE can provide a structured way to build leadership, teamwork and real‑world skills. We see them as remarkable tools and opportunities to help educators shape minds and young lives with compassion, resilience and courage, not just tick boxes.

We feel a duty to pay back and to help young people see past the noise and comparison and swipe culture, division, and likes and to recognise their value in reality. Success is not about likes and swipes. It is about living with authenticity, passion and purpose.

We believe the best medicine for healthy minds is time outdoors – to reset, recharge and build resilience – and to discover and see one’s place in the world beyond classroom walls and screens.

We want to inspire, ignite curiosity, build confidence, and act as humble, selfless and motivating role models to allow doors and possibilities to be seen and opened. If we change the course of life for even one young person, it will be worth it. At GRIT, we never underestimate the power and responsibility of influence. Our duty is to help produce respectful, collaborative and confident future leaders.

Young people are the leaders, trailblazers and pioneers of the future. They need leadership skills, and they need to see their value, place and potential in the world.

We see ourselves as adventurers and see that as a way of life and a mindset: being curious, exploring the world, exploring life, being relentless and creative, and daring to see what’s out there. We try to be different and to have a positive impact – to inspire self‑belief for someone to take a chance.

In life we and young people knowingly going into the unknown. For us, that may be ultras in extreme conditions, heat or cold, where we ask hard questions of ourselves. We are growing and learning all the time and are products of our decisions. Reflection is key to finding yourself, your tribe and becoming your best self.

We support young people to train their minds like a muscle, so when fatigue, pressure or stress kicks in, they can better cope with the ups and downs of the rollercoaster of life.

Our purpose at GRIT is to do everything we can so that young people grow up believing anything is possible – and knowing they must believe it and work for it. It is our privilege to meet incredible, motivated young people and offer them escapism and GRIT. Our courses help them reframe negative thoughts, find purpose, and build strong, positive and authentic attitudes.

If you are a curious, adventurous and ambitious adult, our coaching, ILM L3 programmes and self‑guided packs are also for you. It would be our pleasure to serve you too.

Why you can trust us to be safe?

You can trust that we take our responsibility to safeguard anyone we have the honour to manage or have in our care extremely seriously. We will always act swiftly to prevent any harm and are sincere in that promise. We care about offering challenging experiences, but never at the expense of safety. We strive for everyone to leave their experience with us feeling respected, confident, inspired, challenged, excited and supported.

Please accept our warm invitation to check our 'About Us' section out to read our personal stories and get to know us a little better?

At GRIT, the best teaching happens because we genuinely care, set clear expectations, create an environment where people feel safe to be themselves, and grow - with real world relevance and enthusiasm.

We would be delighted to work with any partners such as schools, local authorities and community organisations.

If money or accessibility is a concern, please do reach out! We would gladly have a confidential conversation, and explore options.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any thoughts, questions, concerns - or just to say hi!

You are very, very welcome

All our very best

Take care

Dan & Alex