As we begin planning for our organisation’s next chapter, we’re sharing a message from our wonderful CEO, David, about his decision to step down and his reflection on his journey with Venture Scotland.
16 years ago, I was sitting in a snow hole I had dug with two other people on the Cairngorm Plateau on a training course, when one of my companions said, “you live in Edinburgh, you should look up a charity called Venture Scotland.”
That simple conversation changed my life.
Fast forward 8 years and I’m sitting in my car outside St Thomas School in Edinburgh about to play an evening game of basketball. My phone rings and it’s the chair of the Venture Scotland board. I’ve been working as Venture Scotland’s Edinburgh Delivery Manager for 3 years. I nervously answer and find the chair asking me to step up as Interim CEO of Venture Scotland. I shed a tear or two. This was the honour of my life to be given something this precious to look after. I was both elated and terrified.
The next 12 months were the hardest year of my life. Taking over a charity which was 6 months away from losing 3/4 of its funding was immeasurably stressful and challenging. Lots of very difficult decisions had to be made. I’ve never survived on so little sleep or felt so alone -only the support of my chairperson got me through this.
The first couple of years felt like a real battle, but I was surrounded by great and talented colleagues and trustees and we pulled together as a team and rebuilt on much stronger foundations.
We diversified our income streams, we rebuilt our relationship with funders, we learnt how to evaluate the work we do properly and we reviewed all our policies, but most importantly, we established what our values were and used them as a compass in everything we did, even if we did have to change most of them once we really understood what our real values were! We also created our Ambassador group, placing young people’s voices and lived experience at the heart of our organisation.
And so, for the last 8 years, I’ve led this amazing organisation through thick and thin, high and lows, supported by so many amazing managers, board members, staff members, ambassadors and volunteers.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to each and every one of you. There is no way I could have done this without you.
However, as they say, all good things must come to an end. Leading Venture Scotland has been the biggest honour of my life, and it will always have a huge place in my heart, but I feel the time has come to pass this precious organisation into someone else’s care.
I am not leaving immediately, however the search for my replacement will begin soon. In the meantime, I’ll be doing everything in my power to leave the organisation in the best state I possibly can. I’ll be leaving at the end of March 2027.
As for the future? I always said this would be my last full-time job and it will be. Retirement is the plan; however, I suspect I won’t be sitting at home with my feet up – too many adventures still to be had!
When I gave up my career as an architect to join Venture Scotland, I remember thinking “if I can support just one young person to have a happier and healthier life, then all this will be worth it”. I know that over the last 8 years, Venture Scotland has done this for hundreds of young people.
And finally, to all the participants I have worked with over the years, your courage, resilience and inspirational journeys have always been an incredible light in my time here at Venture Scotland. May the hope in your hearts, carry you to wherever your dreams lead you.
Thank you.
