Festival of Partnerships for Students Prize winner

After working on various Regional University Network events throughout the Festival of Partnerships for Students I was thrilled to be one of the chosen few to find 'My Peak Potential'. The briefing in Leeds gave us an insight to what could be expected but on arriving at the lodge in the Southern Alps of Germany, nothing quite prepared me for the spectacular location and scenery. Day one saw our team Nordic skiing, day two snowshoeing and day three was the much kept secret activities in the gorge; a mix of activities which enabled us all to challenge ourselves both physically and mentally.and have some fun along the way.

The coaches were fantastic and made us all feel at ease with each task we faced - going blind folded down a zip wire across a river is certainly something I have never experienced before! It was great to mix with staff and students from across the university and share the journey with them. My highlight was the talk given by Dave Bunting on the Mount Everest expedition via the formidable West Ridge. It was inspirational and motivating and demonstrated the importance of working as a team and being focussed on your goals.

Sarah Kirkpatrick GandySenior Officer - Widening Participation & Communications Innovation North - RUN Central

My Peak Potential are going live

We have launched our brand new website http://www.my-peakpotential.com/. Same address; totally new informative, innovative and exciting content!

My Peak Potential specialise in Bespoke Leadership and Management Development. We are a team of ex-British Armed Forces experts in leadership and adventurous training, with our own alpine lodge accommodation in the Bavarian Alps. From here we are able to offer exclusive residential development programme’s as well as fantastic adventure holidays. Please see our new “Be your Best” page to find out more about the powerful, professional and personal benefits of outdoor adventure activities.
There are many new exciting features to the website, including video footage, blogs, competitions and plenty of stunning imagery of the lodge, mountains and various expeditions we have led and taken part in. We have also added an innovative new “Be Inspired” button; simply click on the button, fill in the quick and easy form and submit! One of our experts will then get in touch with suggestions for development programmes, academic courses, holidays and motivational presentations.
To celebrate the launch of our new website we are running a competition to find the team most worthy of a free three day training package for 6 people with us in the Bavarian Alps. This prize is worth £4,500. Simply go to competition box on the homepage and let us know in 100 words why your team would benefit from a development programme with My Peak Potential. Competition closes on the 30th May 2009
We hope you like the new look and enjoy spending time on our fabulous new website.
Please let us know how you find it by contacting us via the website.
Best wishes
Jo

The Everest West Ridge Presentation

It is that time of the year when assignments and exams are taking place, and we are submerging ourselves in the mayhem of submitting coursework and meeting deadlines.

Last week I attended the Dave Bunting Presentation. I regularly check the “campus announcements”, and this really caught my eye as the presentation was billed as high impact and visual.

I remember following on Sky News the attempt to reach the Everest summit via the almost inaccessible and rarely climbed West Ridge in 2006.

The presentation followed the expedition from conception to completion and the many emotional ups and down experienced by the members of the expedition party; the preparation period was three years!

The talk was awe inspiring, at times humbling. There were many themes I could relate to in my everyday life; emphasising the importance of team work, physical endurance, stamina and striving for a common goal. It was about leadership and making hugely difficult decisions.

It was about the process, rather than the end point, as the team never actually managed to complete the expedition and reach the summit.

It reminded me how fine the line is between success and failure.

It reminded me how big the world is!

Andrew Jennings

Dave Bunting is available for motivational presentations through www.speakersfromtheedge.com
and www.speakersacademy.nl

Please click on the names to go directly to their websites.