That the Parliament wishes the team of intrepid explorers from Bo’ness Academy well on their expedition across the Arctic pole with Craig Mathieson’s Polar Academy; understands that the team of ten pupils and one teacher left Bo’ness on 24 March 2022 on the first leg of their journey to Iceland, before leaving for Greenland to finally embark on their adventure across the Arctic; notes that the Polar Academy was founded by Craig Mathieson, explorer in residence at the Royal Scottish Geographical Society and committee member of The Explorers' Club Great Britain and Ireland Chapter, to inspire the next generation of leaders and explorers; understands that he uses his own experience of "inspiration through exploration" to do so; believes that the Polar Academy works with children and young people who have been the victims of bullying, abuse, and those lacking in self-esteem and confidence, and aims to help build them into leaders and role models, enabling them to inspire other young people to reach their full potential, and looks forward to seeing the team from Bo’ness Academy, which, it believes, is the largest polar expedition to leave Scotland since 1904, completing their expedition, and welcoming them back to Scotland to hear of their adventures and experiences.
Supported by:
Karen Adam, Jeremy Balfour, Stephanie Callaghan, Graeme Dey, Jackie Dunbar, Annabelle Ewing, Kenneth Gibson, Bill Kidd, Monica Lennon, Ruth Maguire, Gillian Martin, Stuart McMillan, Audrey Nicoll, Paul Sweeney, David Torrance, Tess White