11 February 2026
PGL Beyond launches Impact Report at the House of Commons, highlighting the role of learning beyond the classroom in breaking down barriers to opportunity
As part of its drive to provide more opportunities for young people, PGL Beyond has today launched its Beyond Impact Report, with the Purpose Coalition, at the House of Commons.
This key event in PGL Beyond’s rich history in outdoor learning and educational travel, brought together Parliamentarians, education leaders, delivery partners and members of the Purpose Coalition to examine how enrichment and experiential learning can support social mobility across the UK.
The Purpose Coalition is a collaborative initiative aimed at breaking down barriers to opportunity and enhancing social mobility across the UK. The PGL Beyond Impact Report, developed in partnership with the Purpose Coalition, sets out the organisation’s social impact across the UK, with a particular focus on supporting young people to build confidence, develop life skills and access opportunity through learning beyond the classroom.
The report is framed against the Purpose Coalition’s 15 Purpose Goals, demonstrating how place-based partnerships and intentional design can help break down barriers to opportunity and support social mobility. It also highlights the role of outdoor and experiential learning can complement academic education to deliver positive outcomes over the long term.
Speaking at the launch, Anthony Jones, Chief Executive of PGL Beyond, said:
“Learning beyond the classroom can be transformational, particularly for young people who face barriers to opportunity. This report sets out the impact PGL Beyond is delivering across the UK, but also our ambition to go much further, working with partners to ensure that experiences which build confidence, resilience and life skills are accessible to more young people, whatever their circumstances.
We were delighted to be able to share the progress we have made to date, with so many stakeholders from across our sector, all focused on providing more opportunities for young people to succeed. Our shared purpose, and our passion to achieve more, will certainly see us reach our goals.”
Rt Hon Justine Greening, Chair of the Purpose Coalition, said:
“One of the reasons the Purpose Coalition exists is to show what progress looks like when organisations move beyond good intentions and commit to measurable action on opportunity. What has impressed us about PGL Beyond is not just scale, but intentionality. This report demonstrates what it looks like when purpose is embedded into how an organisation operates, not bolted on.”
Andy MacNae MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Outdoor Recreation and Access to Nature, said:
“Outdoor experiences play a vital role in supporting young people’s confidence, wellbeing and life chances. The PGL Beyond Impact Report shows why access to enrichment and learning beyond the classroom matters, and why the challenge for policymakers is not whether this works, but how we ensure more young people, in more places, can benefit.”
Attendees heard directly from those delivering impact on the ground and received copies of the report. The event brought together Parliamentarians, sector leaders and delivery partners to discuss how enrichment, personal development and education beyond the classroom can support young people and communities across the UK.
The event included reflections on how the findings of the report can inform future policy, partnership and practice, and how collaboration across Parliament, education and industry can help ensure opportunity is something that is built deliberately, not left to chance.
To read the report please go to: Breaking Down Barriers Report – PGL Beyond
