Our Ambassadors

Brody Frew

She/Her

Before VS I struggled to survive the chaos life threw my way. I had trouble seeing my worth and felt like I was trapped in quicksand

By the end of my journey, I was filled with confidence that my life was changing for the better. I am now the strong person I needed when I was younger and continue to surprise myself every day!

I’m excited to be a part of Venture Scotland’s dream team! I have an unimaginable amount of gratitude for all VS has helped me achieve, I am humbled to have the opportunity to give back in any way!

Caitlin McPhee

She/Her

Before VS, I lacked so much hope for my future. I was in and out of young offenders institutions, I was homeless and was fighting a losing battle with drug and alcohol addiction and my past traumas. VS didn’t judge me and showed me the life I could live. Venture Scotland showed me how to stay present and that my life was just as important as anyone else’s and that I could succeed.

After leaving VS, I started volunteering in my community before moving into a full-time job working outdoors as an instructor and working towards my mountain leader. I started exploring the wilderness by myself and overcoming personal challenges from camping on the Isle of Skye solo, exploring the Cairngorms and climbing munros. Without Venture Scotland, I wouldn’t be here today or living the life I have, and I want more young people to experience that kind of magic. VS really sparked a love for the outdoors, and I’m rarely ever inside now. I hope by becoming an ambassador I can help shine that light on other young people going through dark times and help them find hope for their future, just like I did in this magical place. It would be a pleasure to help the place that saved my life and gave me a different perspective on the world.

KENNY CHEN

He/Him

Before VS, I was in a great slump! I had gone through a variety of difficulties which caused me to be unable to achieve what I thought I should, and I had no confidence left in myself. I didn’t believe I could talk to others, make friends, achieve my ambitions or overcome challenges.

Being part of VS helped bring back a lot of my confidence and helped me to shift my mindset
and perspective on my life. Talking and getting to know those from all sorts of backgrounds helped give me insight into how I should conduct my own life. I found that life was wider and more diverse than I once thought and that you had to take a step towards a challenge to overcome it.

Now, after VS, I’ve found a new confidence that has helped me to push myself to do more
and learn more. I have a new curiosity for life, and I trust it to give me direction. I hope now
to help others find confidence within themselves through being an Ambassador for Venture
Scotland!

Brian Johnstone

He/Him

Before joining VS, I was regularly involved with bad crowds of people and participated in a lot of harmful behaviours which to me were normalised and pushed upon me due to peer pressure and poor education surrounding what I was doing to try and fit in.

When I joined VS, I felt a total shift in who I was as a person, it was a total culture shock to be welcomed into such an authentic, safe environment. I felt like I was part of a big, loving family and I learned to come out of my shell, build my confidence and no longer feel the need to align myself with what I previously thought was the norm. Without VS, I would continue to perpetuate an unhealthy cycle and would continue to be inside an echo chamber of bad habits and even worse people.

I feel incredibly grateful to have been accepted into the role of ambassador, I am incredibly excited to take a look into the magical world of VS as a whole and give aid toward bettering the programme for future participants, while seeking to educate and improve upon myself also!

Emma Fagan

She/Her

Before Venture Scotland, I was starting to find balance in my day to day life but was craving more and looking for a way to kick start what felt like the next phase in my life after experiencing homelessness, recovering from years in fight or flights and learning to juggle my chronic health conditions to allow a fuller life.

When I started at VS I was nervous and excited to see what this chapter would bring and how the programme would work for me. As the course went on I learned so much about myself and how to advocate for what I needed while still pushing myself to try new things. I also felt a sense of belonging in my group and that spread to other areas of my life giving me a new found confidence to take on challenges within and out with Venture Scotland.

Now after programme, I say yes to more in my day to day life, I have started and nearly finished learning to drive, I’ve taken on new opportunities to work. And, of course, I am newly an Ambassador at Venture Scotland which I am very proud of and am delighted to have the opportunity to stay part of the Venture Family and help to make the programme the best it can be for future participants.

Lok Pui Lo

She/Her

Before Venture Scotland, I never saw myself as a physically strong or outdoorsy person. I often believed that activities involving exercise, carrying equipment or spending time outdoors simply were not for me. I was much more comfortable with creative and indoor activities, and I did not have much confidence in what my body was capable of.

My journey with Venture Scotland completely challenged that belief. Through outdoor adventures, physical challenges and time away from my phone, I discovered that I was much stronger and more capable than I had imagined. I learnt that strength is not about finding everything easy. It is about being willing to try, continuing when something feels difficult and surprising yourself with what you can achieve.

Since taking part, I have become much more open to physical and outdoor activities. I have tried badminton, pickleball, yoga and going to the gym. I have also been camping and even learnt to pitch a tent by myself. These may sound like small things to some people, but for me they represent a huge change in how I see myself.

I still sometimes struggle to motivate myself to exercise, but the difference is that I no longer believe I cannot do it. Usually, I simply need to overcome the temptation to stay comfortable and take the first step. Once I start, I often enjoy it far more than I expected.

I am proud to become a Young Ambassador for Venture Scotland because I want other young people to discover that they may be more capable than they believe. Sometimes we do not need to become a completely different person. We just need the opportunity, encouragement and courage to discover the strength that was already inside us.

Inés García

She/Her

Before Venture Scotland, I was in a very rough spot mentally and had recently distanced myself from a harmful group of people. I felt deeply insecure, isolated, and unmotivated. I didn’t like who I was, and I assumed others felt the same way about me.

Venture Scotland massively shifted how I viewed myself. Throughout the 12-week programme, I saw my peers (who are now very close friends) bloom into more confident, self-assured, and happier people. Together, we built our own safe wee community built on nothing but support and compassion. We were always there for each other through every up and down: listening, offering advice, and developing the trust to share our personal stories, worries, and insecurities. The Venture Scotland staff always made sure that no matter who we were or what we were going through, we had a voice and a space to be heard. We all created the momentum that made us feel like we belonged and that real personal progress was possible.

Since completing the programme, I feel so much more in control of my life and have a clearer sense of who I am. I gained the courage to land my current job (which I love), engage more deeply in therapy, and nurture both old and new friendships. My love for nature is thriving, and I feel confident continuing to explore my outdoorsy side.
I want others to benefit from everything I experienced at Venture Scotland, and I want the organisation to keep flourishing so it can reach the young people who need it most. Having experienced how transformative the program is, I truly wish that same opportunity for anyone who is struggling. Peer support and advocacy mean so much to me, and I want to contribute however I can to give back to an organisation that gave me so much growth, belonging, and compassion.