Our Ambassadors

Brody Frew

They/Them

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 and felt like I didn’t deserve a future. I was fighting a losing battle with addiction and my past. 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 helping young people involved in sports and drama. I started exploring the wilderness by myself and overcoming personal challenges from camping on the Isle of Skye solo and in the Cairngorms to climbing mountains and even walking 23 miles to raise money for Venture Scotland in the Kiltwalk! 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 to 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 of the world.

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!

Martyn Booker

He/Him

Before starting the programme with Venture Scotland in December 2023, I had become homeless and was suffering from poor mental health. I wasn’t sure what I wanted my future to look like or if I had one.

Venture Scotland helped me when I needed it the most, and because of them, I have grown as a person. They have helped me set goals so I can envision what I want my future to look like.

I’m grateful for the help VS has given me and that I’m able to give back to something that’s bigger than myself. I’m proud to still be a part of Venture Scotland as an Ambassador, being able to support VS while they help change the lives of young people across Scotland, is helping me find my purpose in life.