About us

With 21 years of experience, Venture Scotland is well established as a leading provider of personal development opportunities for young people facing difficult problems. Our key elements are as follows:

Volunteer Ethos

Outnumbering staff by 20 to 1, volunteers multiply the effectiveness of our work and reduce young people’s isolation. On completion of our programme, we encourage young people to volunteer and thereby continue healthy routines and make a positive contribution to society. 

Respect for self, others and environment

Our main base for residentials is a Highland bothy (mountain hut) in beautiful Glen Etive. The bothy experience promotes teamwork and creates a unique atmosphere in which young people feel safe to experiment with positive and respectful behaviour.

Long-term approach

The young people we work with face multiple and complex problems. It takes time for a young person to learn, develop and make changes in their life. Our service is designed so they have the time and intensive support they need to tackle the barriers that are blocking their progress.

Linked to the community

Following each wilderness experience, young people are encouraged to transfer their learning back to their lives in the city. They are supported in this process through our centres in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Our extensive links to agencies based within the communities in which we work mean we can ensure that young people receive the support they need to tackle their specific issues and also to access positive activities once they have completed our programme.

Committed to quality

Over the past 21 years we have honed our approach to working with young people with complex needs. We are committed to continuously improving and refining our service. We do this by listening to young people and involving them closely in the design of our programme and also through careful evaluation of our work.We have developed a therapeutic approach that is followed by all of our staff and volunteers. The purpose of this shared methodology is to ensure that we are providing young people with the best possible support and that we are consistent in our work. Our approach draws on the best practice of therapies such as Person Centred Counselling, Neuro Linguistic Programming and the Human Givens Approach.

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