Today, we’re catching up with our Glasgow Team Leader, James!
James, tell us a bit about yourself. Have you always been an outdoorsy person?
Wow, straight into the hard questions. I have been described by one of our groups recently as “happy, clappy James” and that probably sums me up pretty well. I believe strongly in social justice and have a love of the outdoors, it just makes sense to be part of the VS team.
You’ve been with VS since October 22 – what do you like most about your role?
I’ve been with VS for around 7 months now and what a journey that has already been been! I would say the opportunity to work with such passionate colleagues, turning up to work knowing you will be surrounded by people who want to create positive change is pretty empowering.
Venture Scotland believes that nature and the outdoors are key to maintaining and improving health and wellbeing – what do the outdoors mean to you?
To me the outdoors means multiple things. First, in green and wild spaces I feel most like my myself, it is where I go to reset. Second, it means opportunity. Opportunities to explore, to play and to be challenged.
What’s your favourite VS memory?
In my first few weeks at VS I got the chance to attend an awards event for a group of young people who had completed the programme, to be able to share in their experience and to see the pride they had in themselves was a very powerful experience. I hope everyone gets to feel like that at some point.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about starting the programme?
You are more capable than you will ever know.
If you could only take part in one more activity session with VS, what activity would it be and why?
Climbing & Abseiling! Is that 2 or can I claim them both at the same time? These can be some of the hardest physical challenges for participants to overcome, being with people when they are pushing themselves and finding out what they are capable of is an amazing experience.
What’s your favourite joke?
What type of cheese is made backwards? EDAM.