In preparation for the training expedition, the challengers had to make sure everyone in both teams (including school leaders and expedition leaders) gets enough decent food for the whole weekend. They needed to provide four meals for the teams with day one needing a cold and transportable lunch and a cooked dinner. Day two would require a cooked breakfast followed by a cold lunch as well as snacks for the full weekend.

The food needed to be purchased in advance of the weekend with a strict budget of £3 per person, bring along all receipts so money could be refunded by World Challenge (this proved to be a difficult task).

I would like to thank Jack and Aaron for volunteering to come to the supermarket to purchase the food. It proved to be a challenging and funny task working out both the budget and amount of food per person.

On Saturday 21st April the challengers along with Mr Malik, Mr Knowles, Miss Skevington and Mr Hawkins from Bushey Meads School travelled to the Forest of Dean for their training weekend. It was an early start leaving school at 6.15am and arriving at Holly Barn at around 9.30am.

Over the course of the weekend the challengers gained an understanding expedition life through:

• Teamwork and leadership
• Staying safe on expedition
• Staying heal thing on expedition
• Preparing camp food
• Tents and campo craft

It was a fantastic weekend with all challengers, including the staff having some unforgettable memories. It was also really nice to meet Martin and Karen our expedition leaders who are great additions to the teams.

The countdown now begins for Swaziland (or what is now known as ‘the Kingdom of eSwatini”) – I think it is going to be a truly amazing experience.