Our history

Venture Trust was established in 1982 to create and deliver personal development programmes for young people involved in offending, initially at the request of the UK Government’s Home Office, and subsequently, since devolution in 1999, in partnership with the Scottish Government. Since then we have developed and delivered a wider range of programmes and currently work in the UK with young carers, women experiencing domestic violence, young homeless people and those who have been in Scotland’s Local Authority care system.

Our programme in Malawi, launched in 2011, builds on our track record of supporting individuals to make improvements in their lives and sustain positive futures. Our innovative approach is now helping young men in Kachere Juvenile Prison to move on and make positive changes to their lives.

Our board

Venture Trust is led by our experienced Board of Directors, chaired by Mairi Brackenridge.

Our Board Members are highly-respected figures in a number of fields relevant to the work of Venture Trust: including outdoor education, the Scottish justice system, and youth work. They have been responsible for guiding government policy on criminal and youth justice, have worked in the legal sector as advocates, sheriffs and solicitors, and sit on committees including the Joint Standing Committee on Legal Education in Scotland, the Criminal Law Committee of The Law Society of Scotland and the Advisory Group for the Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions and Crime. They have extensive experience in both the UK and international voluntary sectors.

You can read more about our Board Members in our people section.

Our accounts

We publish our annual report and accounts each year, to the year ending 31st March. Our annual report and accounts are freely available on this site, on the website of the Charity Commission, and on request from Venture Trust's Head Office.

Legal registration

Venture Trust is a registered charity in Scotland (number SCO38932) and England and Wales (285891). We are also a registered company, number 1673720. Our registered office is Lion House, Red Lion Street, London WC1R 4GB (but please don't write to us there, we're based in Edinburgh).

Inspection and evaluation

Venture Trust has been inspected, monitored or evaluated by the following organisations, all of whom are able to provide information on the quality and appropriateness of the organisation and our activities: The Adventure Activities Licensing Authority, Highland Council, the Scottish Government, ESEP (the company administering European Social Funds in Scotland) and Inspiring Scotland.