Robin Gibb New Outward Bound Ambassador

Bee Gee Robin Gibb has become the first official ambassador of The Outward Bound Trust and has pledged to help increase public awareness of the organisation's work in introducing disadvantaged young people to the outdoors.

GIbb with Simon Waring, head of Outward Bound's Ullswater centre.

Outward Bound takes disadvantaged youngsters from across the UK and helps them to discover their potential through adventure in the wild. Gibb met four young people at an Outward Bound gala event in January and was so moved by their stories that he offered his support to the body.

The result is Outward Bound's first ambassador programme aimed at increasing the body's profile with the public and raising funds.

Robin Gibb comments: "As children, my brothers and I constantly challenged each other and drove each other on to new adventures and achievements.  We discovered music together, teaching ourselves how to play our instruments and write our songs. Without knowing it at the time, we were immersed in the Outward Bound process of discovering our potential.

"It is incredibly important to challenge youngsters to develop skills and interests and channel them into positive projects.  That's exactly what The Outward Bound Trust does, expanding horizons for young people and, through outdoor adventure, providing them with personal skills that will serve them throughout their lives."

Last year some 27,000 young people attended Outward Bound courses - which last between three days and three weeks - but while the Trust's name is well known, the exact nature of its work with disadvantaged young people is less well understood. Hopefully Robin Gibb will play some part on changing that and upping the profile of a cracking organisation.

And all that without a single Bee Gees song title pun, high-pitched voice reference or snide Saturday Night Fever aside... You know the stuff.

More about The Outward Bound Trust at www.outwardbound.org.uk