Lauren Goodson Email & Phone Number

Having grown up just outside The Lake District (my village has signs that read ‘Welcome to Shap – stepping stone to the Lakes & Fells…’), I love that I work for an organisation that enables so many young people to come here and experience the amazing landscapes when they might not have had the opportunity otherwise! In 2014 I took part in an Outward Bound course as part of my NCS programme. Whilst 16-year-old me practically cried all the way up Helvellyn, I still remember reaching the summit and how great it felt knowing I’d managed to do it with the support of my pals. I left my Outward Bound course feeling way more resilient and confident than I was beforehand, and often look back on that experience to remind myself that I probably can achieve more than I think I’m capable of. I really should go back and do it again and experience it with less tears… Now 10 years on, I’m really proud to work for OB and see other young people tell us how amazing their courses were, and hopefully they too leave feeling like they’re capable of more than they think! At Outward Bound I work in the small but fabulous Customer Services team. Often referred to as ‘the engine room’, we assist both customers and our colleagues. Our tasks vary greatly from sending invoices, to assisting with medical forms, pulling off data, and much more. After starting here on a temporary secondment cover in April 2023, I was really lucky to be offered a permanent position in May 2024, with a slight amendment to my job role. As the Customer Service Digital Lead, I now assist my team and other colleagues with our new Dynamics 365 customer management and booking system, alongside my normal day to day duties. Prior to working in any sort of admin role, I worked my way up the Hospitality ladder – starting as a waitress at a village pub when I was 16, ending up as General Manager of a city centre bar and restaurant at the age of 22! I’m super glad I got the chance to work in this industry and I really enjoyed these jobs – I love going to a party and being asked to make cocktails! Whilst it called for a lot of different skills to what I need in my job now, there is definitely a lot I learnt then that still helps me today. Time management, customer service, and conflict resolution being three things I feel are really valuable – even if the conflict in an office job is much different to the conflict you’d find in a bar on a Saturday night! Whilst I may not be the person to get an Outward Bound course booked for you, I can certainly link you up with the right person – just drop me a message 😊