Venture Scotland believes in empowering young people who are facing challenges in their lives to first understand and then improve their mental health and emotions and, in doing so, change the course of their lives.
Through the power of the outdoors, we change, improve and often save the lives of young people across Scotland. Suicide is the leading cause of death for young people in Scotland, and we hear firsthand from the young people we work with that our programme is what turned their lives around.
"Before I came to Venture Scotland, I was in a dark place. I was struggling with university, dealing with trauma from my estrangement and was regularly thinking of suicide... When I saw the opportunity to take part in the Venture Scotland programme, I signed up.
"I started off very nervous... however, quickly the staff and volunteers helped me and my other group members feel safe, supported and cared for. From that point on, the challenges I undertook, the people I got close to, and my development grew exponentially.
"Without Venture Scotland's work, I would still be in the same place; perhaps I wouldn't even be here at all. I know what it means to be capable, be resilient, and be kind. I now have the tools to be kind to myself and to others, to be a supportive friend, and encourage others to dare to try something new."
The Pixel Fund is supporting Venture Scotland with our ‘Challenge Yourself, Discover Yourself’ Programme.
Our ‘Challenge Yourself, Discover Yourself’ programme offers around 300 hours of support in a combination of group and individual settings. We empower young people to come together to overcome physical outdoor challenges, whilst simultaneously improving their social and emotional skills and wellbeing by drawing on the lessons learnt in outdoor environments, back into conversations and use them to understand what they teach us about our daily lives; coping strategies, helpful habits and ways to support ourselves and others.
Thanks to The Pixel Fund’s support again this year, Venture Scotland can continue to offer our outdoor-based personal development programmes, giving young people the opportunity to build belief in themselves, trust in others, understand their emotions, create positive relationships, and ultimately find hope for their future. Pixel Fund’s support will impact these young people in 2026/27 and for years into the future.