A special edition of the Tyne Tees Television current affairs programme ‘Briefing’ in which a group of Newcastle trainees on the Youth Training Scheme (YTS) attend a weeklong residential course at the Ullswater Outward Bounds School in the Lake District. As the cameras follow the trainees in various teambuilding exercises including an expedition to the summit of Helvellyn, the question is asked is what have they learned on the course of benefit to them? Title: Tyne Tees Briefing Special...

A special edition of the Tyne Tees Television current affairs programme ‘Briefing’ in which a group of Newcastle trainees on the Youth Training Scheme (YTS) attend a weeklong residential course at the Ullswater Outward Bounds School in the Lake District. As the cameras follow the trainees in various teambuilding exercises including an expedition to the summit of Helvellyn, the question is asked is what have they learned on the course of benefit to them? Title: Tyne Tees Briefing Special Red Tarn, a small lake at the eastern flack of the mountain Helvellyn in the Lake District. Title: A Most Important Week In Newcastle a party of teenage trainees on a Youth Training Scheme (YTS) load suitcases into the luggage compartment of a coach before climbing aboard and been driven away. As the coach makes it way towards the Lake District those on board are asked if they think this weeklong outward bounds course, sponsored by the Tyne & Wear Chamber of Commerce is important to them? Several see it as a chance to develop their teambuilding skills, not everyone sees it as of value. The coach pulls up outside the Ullswater Outward Bounds School and as those onboard get of and head inside. Steve Howe, principle at the school explains there is a great deal of uncertainty from those taking part and how it is his and his colleague’s job to motivate and win the trust of these young people. In a hall Steve Howe introduces the group to the outward bounds school, he explains that this is probably their most important week under YTS and what he hopes they will achieve from it. Outside Tim James Training Manager explains that he wants the trainees to see the relevance of the course. As he talks about it being part of the YTS scheme the trainee’s collection and put on waterproofs in readiness for their first activity. Along the shores of Ullswater the trainee’s work together to construct a raft from barrels, wood and rope. Nearby watching on progress are three instructors including Steve Howe. The raft completed it is launched into the lake. Wearing lift jackets, they climb aboard their craft and paddle it through the water. Title: Day Two Steve Howe explains to the group about ‘the wall’, the object being to get twelve people across it in the fastest times. He goes through the rules and penalties. The task begins with the group pushing the first person onto the top of the wall. From there that person helps pull the next person up who then assists getting the rest of the group up and over onto a platform. A woman with a film or video recorder captures the trainees. In his office Steve Howe explains that this YTS residential course needs lot of pace to make maximum use of a short period of time. In the rain at the base of a rockface at Greenside one of the trainee’s wearing a safety rope begins his ascent watched by the other trainees nearby. A second trainee begins her climb as the first climber reaches the summit where his partner sits holding the safety rope. The second climber reaches the top and chats with her partner at the end of the safety line. Some of the other trainees reach the summit after which they all descend to the bottom again by abseiling down one at a time. Title: Day Three Back at the school and standing beside a flipchart Steve Howe talks to the trainees about an 24hr exhibition they will be going on into the mountains where they will also be camping. Steve asks the group to plan their own route, around him the group look over Ordnance Survey maps. On the flipchart Steve writes the start and finish points plus where they will be camping, the rest is up to the trainees. Sitting at his desk again Steve Howe explains that what each of the trainee’s will take away from the course will be different, but he hopes they will have a greater understand of themselves and working with other people. He also believes they will be taking away with them transferrable skills that can be used both in work and life. That evening and in the dark the group complete an aerial circuit illuminated by floodlights. Trainee’s walk carefully along different types of paths made from rope and wood without touching the ground. Those on high sections are given encouragement from the ground. Karen, one of the trainees who will be leaving the course early due to an injured knee, believe she has learned something from it. Title: Day Four Carrying heavy backpacks containing all they will need for their expedition the trainees come along track crossing a bridge over a river gorge. They continue their route march into the Lake District mountains and in a field at the base of Helvellyn they erect tents for the night. One of trainee’s collection water from a nearby stream. They continue their hike towards the summit of Helvellyn walking through a boggy valley with some of them carrying backpacks and one carrying a rope. They come to a rest spot beside a rocky outcrop and Steve Howe shows one of the trainee’s how to read a map pointing towards the summit ridge. The group continue their hike towards said ridge following a rocky path. Reaching the summit ridge, they look back down the route they have taken before carefully making their way along the rocky ridge towards the summit. Title: Day Five Back at the school following their night of camping Steve Howe leads a discussion to compare experiences and to receive certificates. They are asked which bits they liked the most and what they didn’t. Over the closing credits a montage of trainees from the programme. Credit: Narrator Sheila Matheson Research Gillian Firth Film Camera Dave Dixon Film Sound Bob Rhodes Film Editor Peter Telford Director Bernard Preston Producer Bob Farnworth End title: Tyne Tees. © Tyne Tees Television Ltd. MCMLXXXIV