Travelling overseas while young can have a life-long impact on people from disadvantaged backgrounds. That’s the key finding from research by the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) examining the long-term impact on former participants from disadvantaged and working-class backgrounds who had travelled abroad with the youth and education charity Raleigh International.

Consulting more than 100 former Raleigh ‘venturers’ from disadvantaged backgrounds, who had been on expeditions between five and 20 years ago, the study included young people who had experienced a range of difficulties in their life such as unemployment, homelessness, drug and alcohol problems, mental illness and violence.

Rallying Together: A case study of Raleigh’s work with disadvantaged young people found that mixing young people from different social backgrounds increased aspirations and interest in education and learning. The study also discovered that intensive experiences and breaks have the potential to widen young people’s horizons and networks and break away from destructive influences and patterns of behaviour. Participants described how the experience made them feel stronger, enabled them to take control and helped them cope subsequently with difficult periods in their life.

The IPPR research commissioned by Raleigh is the first study of its kind to evaluate the long-term impact of overseas expeditions. “This research demonstrates that structured group activities play a powerful role in improving the emotional and social development of the UK’s young people,” said Lisa Harker, IPPR’s Co-Director. “It shows what an overwhelmingly positive experience expeditions like Raleigh, that test people and mix those from different social backgrounds, have proved in changing people’s lives.”

Broadening horizons

76% said being with people from different social backgrounds to their own was an important part of the Raleigh experience.

81% said the experience increased their friendships with people from different backgrounds.

94% said their understanding of other people’s cultures and backgrounds had increased.

73% reported increased participation in volunteering activities as a result of their involvement.

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