More than 50 colleagues from Oswestry-based Aico swapped the office for the Shropshire Hills as part of a fundraising hike in support of local charity Climbing Out.
On Wednesday 19th August, 55 Aico colleagues joined 8 leaders from Climbing Out to take on a challenging 17km route across the Shropshire Hills, a gruelling but fantastic hike accompanied with panoramic views of Shropshire.
Most importantly, the hike gave colleagues an opportunity to experience first-hand some of the principles that sit at the heart of Climbing Out’s work: getting outdoors, getting active, connecting with others and taking on a challenge together.
Climbing Out supports adults who have experienced a life-changing injury, illness or trauma, using outdoor activities alongside personal development to help participants build confidence, resilience and the tools to manage their mindset, emotions and behaviours.
For Aico, the hike was also the latest chapter in a relationship with the Shropshire-based charity that began in 2023.
Over the past three years, Aico has supported Climbing Out in several ways, including providing funding for vital outdoor equipment used across its programmes, as well as supporting new branding for the charity’s van and kit for its team of outdoor instructors.
In 2024, Aico also supported Climbing Out with Breaking Waves, a documentary telling the extraordinary story of the charity’s founder, Kelda Wood MBE, and the experiences that ultimately led her to establish Climbing Out.
The partnership forms part of Aico’s wider commitment to supporting its local community, but the Shropshire Hills hike provided an opportunity for colleagues from across the business to become directly involved.
Jane Pritchard, CSR & Community Engagement Lead at Aico, said:
“Over the past three years, Aico has been privileged to partner with Climbing Out and learn more about the incredible work they do to empower people to manage their mindset, emotions and behaviours.
Their programmes make a real difference, helping individuals move forward with strength and purpose, and we’re proud to continue supporting such an important cause.
Our fundraising hike was a particularly special day. It gave Aico colleagues the opportunity to better understand the work Climbing Out does, experience some of the principles behind their programmes and raise funds to help that work continue.”
Throughout the 17km route, colleagues were encouraged not only to tackle the physical challenge but also to spend time talking, supporting one another and connecting with people they might not usually work alongside.
Kelda Wood MBE, Founder of Climbing Out, said:
“It was fantastic to receive the active support of so many people from Aico. We hope the day gave everyone an insight into the benefits of getting out, getting active and getting talking.
The power of that combination is foundational to the work we do at Climbing Out, so it was brilliant to see so many people engaging with the day while raising funds for our programmes.
Our partnership with Aico is very important to us and has already had a huge impact on Climbing Out. We’re incredibly grateful for their continued support and hope to keep building on the relationship into the future.”
For the Aico team, completing the Shropshire Hills challenge was about far more than reaching the end of the route. The day provided an opportunity to challenge themselves, strengthen relationships with colleagues and gain a greater understanding of a charity making a difference both within Shropshire and further afield.
Most importantly, the funds raised through the hike will help Climbing Out continue providing support and opportunities for people rebuilding their lives following life-changing experiences.
Following three years of partnership, the challenge demonstrated how the relationship between Aico and Climbing Out has developed beyond financial support, bringing colleagues and the charity together around a shared commitment to creating positive and lasting change.
Currently the figure raised is just shy of £4,000. If you’d like to make a difference and donate to the Climbing Out charity to the support lives of more people, go to:www.justgiving.com/page/climbingout-aico-fundraiser
