Partners and employees of Cirencester-based St. James's Place (SJP) took on a challenging expedition in Nepal this month.

The fundraising challenge was made up of a trek in the high Himalayas, followed by a demanding community build project.

Starting on October 10, a team of 19 people spent 17 days in Nepal - trekking and building a vocational school for the region.

To date, more than £210,000 has been raised for the charity Supporting Nepal's Children and the St. James's Place Charitable Foundation.

Starting out in Ulleri, in the Annapurna range, the team began the first part of the long journey to the legendary Poon Hill. With altitudes reaching 3210m, and temperatures down to -5c, this trek demanded exceptional stamina, tenacity and commitment.

After five days of trekking, the team made their way to Dhangadhi to start the second part of their challenge - building a vocational school in western Nepal.

The team was on site for five days to help with the build (the third of its kind), which will see young students learn trades such as plumbing, carpentry, tailoring and welding, so they are able to build a career, remain with their families in the region and contribute to the local economy.

Following a successful Everest Base Camp trek in 2012, Supporting Nepal's Children was founded by members of the St. James's Place community - Hazel Grace, Nadine Phillips and Roger Owen (who later went on to summit Mount Everest). They were inspired to give back to the Nepali community following devastation caused by earthquakes and other natural disasters in the preceding years.

To date, the charity has raised over £1.6 million.

Initially the charity worked in partnership with the SJP Charitable Foundation to support a Nepali school in Pangboche, with book donations and a grant.

Today, the charity has grown to be one of the most significant in the region, alongside the Nepal Youth Foundation - a Nepali NGO. Its mission was to enable all Nepali children to benefit from an education and remain part of the local community.

For those on this expedition, this was a life-changing challenge, for a life-changing charity.

Gareth Thomas from Hawkins Thomas Wealth said: "Taking part in this build and trek expedition with the charity Supporting Nepal's Children has been truly life impacting for me. Helping to build a vocational school, that as a group we helped raise the funds for, was far more rewarding than I could have ever imagined. It is an incredible feeling to know that we are helping the young people of Nepal to develop skills for life. Following this with exploring and trekking in the Himalayas made an already incredible experience one that will stay with me forever."

Max Patel from Shenley Private said: "The beauty of Nepal goes beyond the magic in the mountains - it's in the people and the potential we're helping to unlock. Seeing the vocational school that the team built two years ago in action reminded me that every brick we lay today can shape brighter tomorrows."