Our Impact

It's not about the canoes

At Venture Scotland, we aim to create a world in which people see their self-worth and have hope for the future through long-term, outdoor-based programmes in safe and welcoming environments. For more than 35 years, we’ve been here for people when they need us most.  

Our participants experience climbing, coasteering, weaselling, bothy trips, gorge walking, hill walking and canoeing – an abundance of adventure, challenge and exhilaration! 

But it’s not about the canoes… or the climbing or the coasteering. 

It’s the profound change and growth experienced by the individuals before, during and after these experiences. It’s the increase in social and self-awareness, the ability to understand their emotions and build positive relationships, the belief in the possibility of change, and the ability to get their voice heard. 

Through individual stories and data collection, we gain a clearer understanding of our impact, beyond the canoes, enabling us to continuously refine and improve our work to better support individuals who need us more than ever before. 

Read our most recent publications

The Inspiring stories of our participants

VS was my last hope at change. I’ve heard people say that you need to hit rock bottom before you can accept help and slowly climb back out again. In my experience, I hit rock bottom, asked for help and then was buried down there. My mental health rapidly deteriorated aged 12, and by 13 I was very suicidal, wanting with every fibre in my body to die and just not be here anymore. The next five years were very turbulent, filled with suicide attempts, hospital admissions and CAMHS appointments. I very quickly lost all trust in people and was unable to speak or leave home due to crippling anxiety.

I can categorically say I would not be here today without VS. From the first conversation with Sophia, my VS Outreach and Support Worker, I remember thinking she’s the kindest person I have ever met, if everyone at VS is like this, I think I might be able to do this. She had such a good understanding of the barriers facing young people who want to take part, and how VS could help mitigate them. Venture Scotland’s values of respect, trust, inclusion, personal development, diversity and environment really do run throughout the charity and how it operates, creating safe foundations for positive changes to build. What really sets VS apart from other charities is the longer-term nature of the course and with next steps, allowing me to develop at my own pace, and slowly begin to open up. Bit by bit, VS gave me back my voice, and although it is sometimes still quiet, I would love to continue discovering its power, support others to do the same and together use it as a force for good.

 graduated the course in June 2022, leaving much more confident, happy (an emotion I had honestly not felt for years), and grateful to be alive. Since leaving, I have continued volunteering, gained a part-time job and have a place at college to study outdoor leadership in Fort William this year. The nature of mental illnesses means that wobbles still happen regularly, but VS has given me the resilience and skills to be able to weather these storms and come through more intact than before.

Ishbel, programme graduate

When I first joined Venture Scotland, I was hesitant to say the least. I had just decided to take a break from Uni as my mental health was at an all-time low. I knew I couldn’t continue the way that I was, but I also couldn’t quite grasp just how bad it had gotten. I could barely leave the house by myself, but I did when necessary and I was still kind of functioning, so I can’t be doing that badly, surely? And leaving Uni was all I needed to fix myself.

The first day of Challenge I was still kind of apprehensive. I can’t pinpoint the moment in that week that I decided that I was staying until the end, come hell or high water, but I think it started on the second day. The classic rock-climbing day. The surprise and elation that I felt in getting to the top of the quarry was unlike anything I had felt before. When I came down, Mo congratulated me, saying how impressed she was that I managed to get to the top with apparent ease, especially considering how scared I was about it at the beginning of Challenge. Just to have that tiny moment of recognition, that sense of accomplishment and achievement and pride that I felt was something that I don’t remember ever feeling before.

Leadership allowed me to reflect on how much Venture Scotland has done and still continues to do, for me. When I started, if I’m being completely honest, I don’t think I wanted to get better. I didn’t see just how bad my mental health was, and how long it had been that way. Blaming Covid was easy, but it wasn’t until I started VS and saw what it was like to want to try and be happy, to try and live. That life didn’t have to be something that just happened to me unwillingly. It wasn’t until then that I realised just how much, and for how long, that I wanted to die. And that in order to overcome it I needed to play an active part in trying to want to be better, to improve myself and my quality of life, and actually feel like I deserve to be happy.

Venture Scotland has been there for me in ways that I didn’t know I needed. Since day one, I have put my life in Venture Scotland’s hands, and I can now say with confidence that you have saved me. I know I would not be the person that I am today without it. Having these revelations about how my brain works has allowed me to be more patient and kinder to myself and is allowing me to heal the years of wondering what was wrong with me and why I struggle where other people don’t.

It makes me think of the logo with the two people holding hands, and how accurate it is in showing what VS has been for me. They have been there gently guiding me, supporting me. Giving me confidence and allowing the space for self-improvement. They have shown me that even on days when I am really not doing good, when I’m struggling to function at the most basic level, that I can still push past it and climb to the top of the highest wall.

Jo, programme graduate

I was bullied growing up and didn’t have many friends at school, so I put great stock in my academic abilities. When I didn’t manage to complete my studies at university it made me feel like a disappointment and a failure. Because I was depressed in my fourth year, I didn’t finish the fourth year of my BSC in computer science. This led to a complete loss of confidence. I had a bit of a mental breakdown in 2016, often had suicidal thoughts and was diagnosed with depression.
 
I struggled for a long time, stuck in a rut. I felt alone, with no one to talk to. I was then diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder, which made me feel even worse about myself. I was spending all my time alone in my house. My CPN (community psychiatric nurse) told me about VS and we agreed it was a good idea to help get me out of the house.
 
t was really nerve-wracking at the start but as I went through the course my confidence kept building. I became less afraid and more confident. I have been able to talk to people about my problems in a safe space without being judged, around people with similar experiences to me, and the excellent staff. This allowed me to improve my communication with others and not be as shy as I was before.
 

At times it was frustrating because I didn’t have the patience at the start to deal with some people. They had problems I didn’t understand. But as time passed, I got used to them and improved my ability to interact with different people and work with them to achieve goals.      It really helped me to go to the bothies and learn to work in a rota system with communal living. I’ve met many awesome people on the course and made some friends for life. VS has given me renewed confidence that I could go out and meet other people, and that I won’t be alone. I have learned to be patient and accept that I can’t change others but only myself and my own attitude. I am more able to understand other points of view now. I have learnt to work in a team, play to each other’s strengths and help one another succeed in different tasks. 

As well as communication, I improved my teamwork skills, problem-solving and leadership. The course built me up so I became a much stronger person. I learned how to adapt to different situations.

 
Venture Scotland has helped me learn how to cope with difficult problems and adapt when things change beyond my control. It has given me a sense of purpose and renewed determination. It made me realise that what’s happened in the past doesn’t have to influence what I do going forward.
 
I’ve been looking for work since I finished the course and have joined different groups – I’m a member of a board game group, for example. I enjoy going out and socialising more than I used to. I now have belief in myself that I can cope with whatever life throws at me.

 

Bryan, programme graduate

 

WHAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE SAY

Cathy, 2023
“Emotional, deep, life changing, scary, strong, amazing, it’s changed my outlook on things and on my past. Each day is a blank canvas and I can control the pencil. Very exciting, nurturing, understanding, responsible, endless fun. It’s made me realise how much time I lose thinking negatively on my past. It’s made me feel more in tune with the world and nature.”
Eddie, 2022 (Pseudonym)
“The VS experience is truly life changing - before joining I could hardly leave the house by myself but now I am able to go outside and appreciate the outdoors and nature. They have boosted my self confidence and awareness of the world, ten fold, and I know that it will keep growing the longer I stay. Joining VS was the best decision I have ever made in my life.”
Calum, 2023 (Pseudonym)
"The best part of the programme is having deep conversations with people, and knowing that I'm not alone..."
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