At Venture Scotland, we believe every young person deserves the opportunity to build confidence, discover new strengths, and feel a sense of belonging. In this blog, Inés shares her journey, showing how outdoor adventure and supportive group experiences can help open up new possibilities for the future.
Before I found Venture Scotland, I was in a really rough period of my life. I had just finished my master’s degree, moved into a new flat after leaving a difficult relationship, and everything had changed at once. For a long time, my degree had given me structure and something to focus on every day, but once it ended, I suddenly felt overwhelmed by the question of where do I go now?
I had started with a new therapist and new medication, so I was doing things to look after myself. But I still felt lost. I had this big space in front of me, and I didn’t really know what to do with it.
One thing that kept coming up in therapy was that I wanted to do more in the community. During my difficult relationship, I had left behind a lot of the things I enjoyed, especially being outdoors. So, one night, at about two in the morning, I started looking online for community things to do in Edinburgh.
When I found Venture Scotland, I thought, “Oh, that’s cool.” It was outdoors, mental health focused, and sounded exactly the kind of thing I was looking for. So, I impulsively sent in an application.
When I first met Louisa, I was very, very nervous. I knew it was meant to be an informal chat, but part of me thought, “Is this going to be a character interview? Am I not going to get into the programme?”
But the meeting was really lovely. It was relaxed and chilled, more like chatting than being assessed. Every time I met with the staff after that, it felt the same: warm, easy, and human. That really helped me.
I remember the first day very clearly. I don’t think I had properly processed that I was about to walk into a room full of people. As I was going up the stairs, I could hear voices and thought, “Oh God, no.”
A big part of the programme for me was learning to be around people again in a way that felt safe. I struggle with anxiety, and on the first residential trip I did have a moment where I needed space. But I got that space, and the staff and the group were really supportive. If someone was struggling, people would encourage them or remind them, “You can take a break. It’s completely fine.”
Nobody made anyone feel bad for needing a moment. We all bonded really well, and we’re still friends now. The programme really brought us together.
What impacted me most was what it did for my confidence and self-esteem. After the relationship I had come out of, those things were completely shattered. I joined mainly for the community side. I wasn’t expecting to make friends; I just wanted to be around people and feel part of something.
But being in that group showed me that my presence could cheer people up, that people found it easy to talk to me, and that I could be supportive.
By the end, I felt like I could say, “I can be consistent. I can be resilient. I can make friends. I can be supportive.” That last part meant a lot because I want to become a therapist in the future. Realising that supporting people comes naturally to me was really nice. I didn’t have to force it. It was just part of who I was.
In general, Venture Scotland helped me find myself again. That sounds a bit cringe, but it’s true. After so much change, I needed to come back to myself and remember the things I loved. I’m calmer now, and I found what I was looking for – the community.
Some of my favourite memories are from the first residential. I remember the second day, when everyone had settled in. People were around the big dining table, some playing, some chatting, some eating. I came back into the room and thought, “Oh, it’s like a big family.” That felt really good.
Another important moment was realising I could just be myself. Usually, I filter myself quite a lot. But one day I realised it felt natural, like I had known these people for ages. I could be silly. I wasn’t this odd person; there were other people like me, and they were cool.
The hardest part wasn’t the activities themselves. The hardest part was stepping out of my comfort zone socially: meeting new people, going on residential, being vulnerable, and opening up. But during the programme I never felt judged. Seeing other people open up made me want to open up, too.
I learned practical things, too. I had already been bouldering for about a year, and one of the volunteers gave me tips I could use when I went on my own. I also climbed outdoors properly for the first time, and I absolutely loved it.
Weaselling was another big one because I’m claustrophobic. I was nervous, but everyone was encouraging and I did it. Then there was raft building, which at first felt like chaos, but we worked together. The raft stayed afloat for about 40 minutes, and I remember thinking, “We made this together.” It showed me that teamwork can actually work. I usually like doing things my own way, but that experience helped me see the value in other people’s ideas.
When the programme ended, it felt strange not coming in every week. But I also felt like I had taken part of the programme with me because I was still seeing the friends I had made. The support of these friends has made me realise that I can maintain close, supportive friendships and I value myself much more.
Now I feel quite good. I have my own structure again. It has motivated me to spend more time outdoors. I’ve been camping with friends, and I definitely want to keep camping, hiking, bouldering, and hopefully doing more outdoor climbing. I also felt confident enough to go for – and get – my dream job as a mental health coach!
The confidence that I gained from my Venture Scotland programme has translated into wanting to do more for the community; I’m volunteering for an eating disorder charity and I find it so rewarding to see that I can make a positive impact. I’ve also become one of Venture Scotland’s Ambassadors and it feels amazing knowing that I can give back to the organisation that did so much for me and my own mental health; the volunteers on my programme helped me so much, and I am so looking forward to passing that forwards.
Looking back, Venture Scotland gave me what I was searching for: community, confidence, and a way back to myself. It reminded me that I can do hard things, that I can belong, and that I don’t have to filter myself all the time. I came in feeling lost and overwhelmed. I left with friends, memories, new skills, and a much stronger sense of who I am.