I’d like to respond to research findings that suggested “Cash crisis and red tape put staff off school trips” (March 27). The Outward Bound Trust provides generous bursaries to make our courses accessible to as many young people as possible, irrespective of their financial circumstances. The application process for arranging such bursaries has also been simplified. Almost half of the people who pass through our centres have received some form of financial help - whether this has been arranged individually or by their school. In 2008, this meant that 13,151 individuals were offered financial support to help them cover the costs of an Outward Bound trip.

Nick Barrett, Chief executive, The Outward Bound Trust.