EP.1 - Why adventure matters today (feat. Martin Houghton-Brown)

Understanding how to help young people to unlock their self-belief has never been more critical than it is today.

The facts:

By the end of 2024...

• The NHS reported it was receiving 4000 referrals per week for young people with anxiety and mental health issues (data; The Guardian)
• Persistent absence in England’s schools was at 20% - rising to over 30% in secondary schools serving disadvantaged communities (data; Oasis Community Learning)
• There had been a drop of over 70% in funding for youth provision in the last 20 years (Data; YMCA)

About this episode:

In our first Basecamp Broadcast, Martin Houghton-Brown (Secretary-General of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award) and Honor Wilson-Fletcher (CEO, British Exploring Society) pondered why charitable organisations working with young people face a range of challenges in 2025. Martin brought a uniquely international perspective to the conversation which was invaluable.

Together, they consider what we need to do (and are already doing) to ensure that the long-lasting benefits of what we still sometimes call ‘type-two fun’ are available to all. And of course, they celebrated the intense privilege of working with young people.

This podcast also features voice note reflections provided by Young Explorers from British Exploring Society's expedition programmes in 2024.

Host: Honor Wilson-Fletcher, CEO British Exploring Society

Production and script: Ned Helyar