Our Ambassadors

Brody Frew

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!

VS Graduation: October 2022

Became VS Ambassador: June 2024

Favourite VS activity: Paddle boarding in Loch Ard – I saved a baby caterpillar as he hitched a ride and also I held a frog!

Caitlin McPhee

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.

VS GraduationAugust 2023

Became VS Ambassador: June 2024

Favourite VS activity: Glen Etive and Stanhope because both of them were such stunning places and were so quiet and peaceful compared to the chaos I was used to. Both places were where I noticed changes in myself and realised the amount of hope I had for my future.

Claudia Eusebi

Elle Clark

When I started out on my VS journey I was in a very dark place. I could barely leave the house by myself due to anxiety and I had just decided to take a year out of university. I was feeling very hopeless and was unable to plan ahead for the future as all I could see was darkness.
 
VS helped lure me out of my shell and help me learn about different parts of myself that I didn’t know existed. I learned that I loved being in the outdoors, jumping off cliffs into the sea, scaling walls in beautiful places and helping give back to the community in different ways.
 
After a long journey with VS, I am now back at university and loving it, I have hope for the future and can see the good that was around me all along. I now can see that I am capable of doing amazing things that I never would have dreamed of doing before.
 
Being an ambassador for VS is such an exciting opportunity to not only develop the skills I learned during my programme further but also allows me to give back to an organisation that has already changed my life in so many ways. I will always take on any challenge VS throws my way to the best of my abilities.
 
VS graduation: October 2023
 
Became VS Ambassador: June 2024
 
Favourite VS activity: Being on the water paddle in hand, watching the world go by from my canoe.

Fraoch Lux

Prior to VS I felt limited and without hope for the future; embarking on the programme was my way of shifting this narrative for myself in a supportive and challenging environment.

Following on from my Venture Scotland experience I have studied Outdoor Adventure on the Isle of Skye with the aim to work in the outdoor industry.

Being an ambassador means having my lived experience valued, being able to develop further and nurturing a reciprocal relationship with a place that helped me see a way forward.

VS GraduationJune 2022

Became VS Ambassador: April 2023

Favourite VS activity: Long walks with deep talks 

Ishbel Lapslie

VS not only changed my life, but also helped spark a love for the outdoors and the desire to help others too.

I hope that becoming an Ambassador will allow me to give back to the place which gave me so much, and to hopefully help others find those positive changes and discover a way forward.

You will most likely find me out with the dog, climbing, or volunteering at the Riding for the Disabled. 

VS Graduation: June 2022
Became VS Ambassador: April 2023
Favourite VS activity: Being at the bothy in Glen Etive