Trekforce Expeditions

Trekforce Expeditions was a UK-registered Youth Development Charity (No. 1005452) running from 1990 to 2006. It ran two-month jungle expeditions in places such as Belize, Borneo and Guyana, completing various conservation projects. The volunteers were predominately from the UK, aged 17-25, with the aim being personal development of those taking part, whilst contributing to remote infrastructure projects in the countries in which it operated.

History

Wandy Swales was the inspiration and spirit behind Trekforce. He was one of the late and great, original Explorers. Like every great Explorer he inspired anyone he came into contact with. Wandy co-led Operation Drake (the precursor to Operation Raleigh). Realising the great work that expeditions can do for the host country as well as the participant, Wandy founded Swale Treks and started leading true adventurous expeditions in the mid 1980s exclusively to Indonesia, where at the time many of the 30,000 islands were uninhabited.

Swaletreks turned into the charity, The International Scientific Support Trust in 1990; this in turn changed its name to Trekforce Expeditions not long after in order to reflect the changing nature of project-based expeditions. The early 1990s was when many of the greats in expeditions, including Bruce Parry, Doug Warner, Ed Swales, Damian Taylor, Corrin Adshead, Lizzy Ellis, and Steve Oliver became involved carrying on the great work of Wandy and his fellow supporters / Trustees. It was also the time Rob Murray John became involved. Trekforce Expeditions was continued by Rob Murray John, who then set up Trekforce Worldwide to carry on the legacy of Trekforce Expeditions, and the spirit of Wandy Swales