The Dispossessed Fund: No mountain high enough for Kenton Cool and the gang

Kenton Cool pointed to the summit half-covered in cloud and said: “That’s where we’re gonna climb today, boys.” The three teenagers from the youth club in Hackney gazed up in awe. Ahead, rising steeply above a picture-postcard cwm, were the forbidding Glyders — 1,001m Glyder Fawr and 994m Glyder Fach, Wales’s fifth and sixth highest peaks.

“Has anyone died climbing that?” asked Kieran Bryzek, 17. “This is my first time on a mountain,” said Shea Wild, 15. Connor Clarke, 16, added: “I just don’t wanna fall.” Kieran added with relish: “You mess up, you die.”

It had taken five hours for mountaineer Kenton, 42, to drive us from London to Ogwen Cottage Outdoor Pursuits Centre in Snowdonia National Park. Earlier this year he raised an Evening Standard Dispossessed Fund banner at the top of Everest to mark his 12th summit — a UK and European record — and vowed to take disadvantaged inner-city youths up a mountain to show them “anything is possible when you have the willpower”.

In Snowdonia, his plan was to scale three peaks in two days and camp wild overnight at the top. Senior youth worker Dominic Hinshelwood picked the three youngsters who were taking part and joined us on the trek.

Dominic, who works at Laburnum Boat Club — recipient of a Dispossessed Fund grant for their work with Hackney youth — said: “Kieran was kicked out of school for fighting and has anger management issues, but he’s more in control now and I want to give him a chance. Connor’s doing an apprenticeship but he can withdraw into himself and has self-belief issues so this trip could be transformative. Shea has never been on a mountain but shows huge talent on Laburnum’s climbing wall, so to put him in touch with a great mountaineering guide like Kenton is an opportunity not to be missed.

“The aim is to put them into a situation they perceive as risky but is relatively safe, because if they conquer it, it will give them the resources to draw on when they face challenging experiences in life, like job interviews.” As we packed rucksacks and loaded tents and food supplies, Kenton began his briefing: “There are three rules. Stay safe. Have fun. Summit. Climbing mountains is all about getting to summit.”

The path started with a stroll to a picturesque lake but then climbed steeply and soon we were huffing and puffing. “When does it get flat?” panted Connor when we stopped for water. “When we’re back in London,” retorted Kieran. We looked over the lake far below. “What’s that river in the distance?” asked Kieran. “That’s not a river, that’s the sea,” said Shea, pointing towards Colwyn Bay about 20km away. “Oh my days, amazing,” exclaimed Connor.

After another 90 minutes of climbing we stopped for a lunch of sandwiches and fruit. The most strenuous part was still to come and Kenton set out the options. “We can go straight up and pick our way through that rockface or head over that ridge,” he said. “Let’s do whatever is harder,” retorted Kieran. As we levered ourselves rock by rock up the precipitous escarpment, conversation ceased. The next 45 minutes was all adrenaline-pumping anxiety and intense focus. A slip could lead to a 30m fall and a broken limb. Eventually we breasted the escarpment ledge and fell in a heap, unhinging our rucksacks from our sweat-soaked backs.

Connor grinned: “That was scary. I slipped about 10 times. I thought I was a goner. I’m glad I done it though. If Kenton wasn’t here to lead us, I would have stayed at the bottom.” Kenton spoke of the importance of challenging yourself in life and building towards goals “step by step, minute by minute, day by day, year by year”.

But there was more to go. “We can leave our bags here, it’s only another 15-minute scramble to the summit,” he said. Connor looked shocked. “Won’t somebody steal our bags?” he asked. “Not up here,” said Kenton.