About Us
Head For Adventure consists of a small, but very carefully chosen, team of staff led by Neil and Louise. All our staff are dedicated to encouraging and supporting children and young people with disabilities to explore their capabilities, challenge themselves and, most importantly, to enjoy life!
The company was founded in 2004, originally working specifically with clients with acquired brain injuries. We now work with a wide range of clients from across the UK, with a range of needs and abilities.
We believe that soft skills and personality are just as important as qualifications, so all staff are carefully selected with these qualities in mind. All specialist activity staff are outdoor professionals, qualified to National Governing Body standards. Our support staff are all hand picked and experienced in supporting and caring for people with disabilities. Head For Adventure follows a safe recruitment process, and all staff undergo an enhanced CRB check.
Neil Gilmour
Neil set up the company out of a love for the outdoors, and the belief that being outdoors allows us to get back in touch with the things that really matter in life.
Back in 2001, Neil was the only surviving passenger in a minibus crash. After getting out of hospital, he spent a lot of time stuck inside 'recovering'. Having worked at activity centres since he was 15, Neil now found himself gazing out of the window looking at the hills and river, wishing he was out there instead doing something exciting.
He wondered if other people were thinking the same thing, and once back on his feet, did something about it.
As well as playing a leading role in terms of the management of the company, Neil is Head For Adventure's chief instructor, and still gets a buzz out of sharing his love of the outdoors with our adventurers!
Louise Gilmour
Louise has been involved with Head For Adventure for a number of years as a member of support staff. Having grown up with two disabled family members, Louise has a very real understanding of how challenging day-to-day activities can be for people with disabilities, let alone embarking on something more exciting and challenging, which others may take for granted.
After several years working for a leading examination board in London, where she was responsible for ensuring fair access to assessment and equality for disabled people, Louise decided it was time to retreat to the countryside and get directly involved in working with children and young people with disabilities. At the beginning of 2010, Louise gave up her role in London to become a full-time member of staff for Head For Adventure, as Operations Manager.
When she's not in the office, Louise can usually be found at the bottom of a climb or abseil offering support and encouragement to our adventurers. Louise also has the very important role of feeding us all when we're away on a short break or group holiday. She also works with clients on cooking and independence skills and has developed a range of easy to use recipe prompt sheets for clients to take home and continue cooking.
Jazz
Jazz has been a very welcome member of the Head For Adventure team since 2008, when she joined us from a sheep farm in Wales. As well as being Head For Adventure's official petting dog, Jazz is also our Chief Entertainment Officer, keeping our adventurers occupied with her squeaky bone or a ball in between the adventurous activities! Jazz is also a very good listener and is always ready with a cuddle and a nuzzle when it's needed... or even when it's not!
Jazz's favourite activities include biking, hill walking, climbing, eating, chasing tennis balls, and snoring in her bed after a day full of exciting activities.
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