By Sandra Gray

A SOCIAL enterprise scheme launched by a Perth company has received the support of Perth and Kinross Council.

Councillor Bob Ellis joined MSP for North Tayside John Swinney at the start of the Cateran Trail in Blairgowrie yesterday, as Sue Williams from Trekking Encounters highlighted the project’s importance.

The trail will play a central part in the scheme, which will see participants undertaking a trek to Everest Base Camp in October, as well as getting involved with a social scheme in Nepal.

Discussions between the council and Trekking Encounters have identified a common goal to help people build their confidence with activities in and around Perth, and now, Nepal.

This will have the side effect of helping them return to full-time employment.

Mr Ellis said, “This is a fantastic idea that the council and Trekking Encounters have come up with.

“This is a very different way of helping and motivating people back into employment and I will be giving every support I can to the project.”

The firm, a specialist provider of treks and expeditions to the Himalayas and Nepal, aims to help disadvantaged people in Perth and Kinross.

They are already involved with two social schemes in Nepal and hope to encourage the people they assist to help in this.

Ms Williams said, “Our experience shows us that by undertaking adventure activities in Scotland and Nepal, and linking these directly with the social aspect of a country such as Nepal, it is absolutely life changing.

“We think it is tremendous that the council have had the vision to support this project.

“The Social Economy Partnership has given us considerable help in the development of social enterprise, through funding and business support.”

Initially, the company will work with local support organisations to identify 12 people who will benefit most from the scheme.

Trekking Encounters will lead a series of adventure workshops to equip each person with the right mind-set and attitude to meet the challenge ahead.

These will be teamwork-based and designed specifically to build self-esteem, self-belief, self- confidence and leadership skills.

Social enterprise is a relatively new way of doing business, which generates income through trading or providing services with a social aim and the Scottish Government has invested £93 million in developing this further.

Mr Swinney added, “I am delighted to see this developing in east Perthshire and I am sure this will make an excellent contribution to the local economy.

“We live at a time when we need real innovation in our business development and I am sure Trekking Encounters will help to deliver just that.”

For further information about Trekking Encounters, go online to www.trekkingencounters. com