Venture Trust has a number of really exciting volunteer positions coming up. We're on the hunt for friendly, committed volunteers to lend a hand:

Current volunteer positions

Volunteer photographer

Thursday 21st June, Edinburgh

We're hosting our first ever graduation event in the evening of 21st June (from 4pm till 10pm), which is a chance to celebrate the achievements of those who've successfully completed out programmes. We need volunteer photographers to come along to help us capture the event. You'll need to be friendly and enthusiastic, to bring your own kit, and to provide us with a CD of the images you've taken after the event.

Collection heroes

Saturday 18th August, Edinburgh

Our collection heroes are ace. We've secured a permit to hold a street collection in central Edinburgh on Saturday 18th August - the height of festival season. You'll need to be available for at least a 2 hour slot, be smiley, loud and super-cheerful, and be able to shake a bucket with the best of them. Fancy dress highly encouraged....

Cheering volunteers

Sunday 21st October, Edinburgh

Venture Trust's brilliant supporters are getting involved with Survival of the Fittest, at 10k obstacle race in Edinburgh on 21st October. We need bouncy, energetic supporters to cheer them along, make copious cups of tea, paint faces and generally be as loud and encouraging as possible. Volunteer photographers (with their own kit) also very welcome to this event. Alternatively, if you'd like to take part in this event yourself, the info you'll need is here.

How to apply

It's easy! Just email kathryn@venturetrust.org.uk, and let us know which position you'd like to get involved with.

Michelle, a participant on our Inspiring Young Futures programme, reflects on her time with - and after - Venture Trust:

"...The trip had a thing called support groups where we would sit down and discuss goals to set for ourselves and our group.

This happened maybe every day or every second day and at first I was like 'I'm not doing this, it will be pointless', the usual! So at first my goals were a little basic like 'get to know the other participants, get involved more with group activities' etc.

But as the days went on Iain and Phil challenged me to make more personal goals, like ones that would make a difference to me. They noticed I was running late sometimes because I always had to put my make up on and both of them spoke to me about this on our Tipi expedition since it was pouring down and I had mascara and eyeliner all down my face! I ended up realising I was using make up as a mask because I was insecure about my looks and never really felt myself unless I had make up on.

So I thought about it that whole day and once we'd settled into the tipi at night I announced that I was taking my make up off and I'm challenging myself to keep it off the whole trip. I got a big applause from everyone which I wasn't expecting but it made me want to do it even more. The first few days were hard as I was totally refusing to look at anyone or get my photos taken or anything but people were complimenting me more saying I had a good complexion, I looked more fresh faced and looked better without all the stuff! This made me feel great. I ended up not caring by like day 4/5 and was up for getting photos taken, I was smiling more and just felt a lot better. I lasted the whole trip and everyone was so proud of me which just felt so good hearing that from people.

All of my goals and skills were recorded on my feedback sheets and I do read them quite a lot when I'm at home.

If I'm feeling really down or I'm getting really negative with myself, which I do a lot, I bring out all of my sheets and give them a read and remind myself of a person I know I can be and it never fails to cheer me up.

It helps me reflect on how I overcame obstacles and challenges on the trip and how this can come into effect in life back home. It always boosts my confidence and makes me feel like I can achieve my goals if I just push myself and it always ends up better than if I stayed wallowing in self pity about things. I'm glad I have those sheets, I'll be keeping them forever!

My life would not be the same if I hadn't got involved with VT.

I was really upset about coming home [from expedition] to be honest. I was on the train back from Inverness with everyone and we were having a laugh and talking about the trip but everyone settled down after a bit and I pulled out my stuff that I was given like my feedback sheets, my diary and things and gave them a little read. I ended up crying a little, but it wasn't sadness it was more happiness and acceptance that I had managed to complete this challenge and I'd had a really great time and I was ready to start my new life.

When I got home my mum was so happy to see me and was so proud of me for doing it.

I seen my friends for the first time a few days later and they couldn't believe the change in me. They said I seemed so much happier, I was more confident and wanted to hear all about my time away. A few days later I had so many things to do like go for my college interview, apply for jobs and get more involved with things and I just seemed so eager to get on with it!"

We did it! On Saturday 17th March, a committed team of 25 fearless runners successfully tackled the Mighty Deerstalker event in Peebles, to raise money for Venture Trust.

Collectively raising over £2,000 to support Scots from difficult and disadvantaged backgrounds, Our intrepid runners tackled obstacles including cargo nets, balance beams and river crossings – not to mention wading through copious amounts of mud.

Our fabulous supporters travelled from across the country to be there (special mention to the four runners from RGU:RAG who travelled down from Aberdeen the morning of the event), and everyone dressed to the nines in their finest tweed, tartan, flat-caps and waistcoats, all topped off with Venture Trust-themed face paint. As the 5k runners returned tired and dirty from their epic adventure, the 10k runners battled on into the falling darkness, scrambling up scree slopes lit only by their head torches. No effort was spared, and the months of training, fundraising and preparation paid off as every one of the team successfully crossed the finish line.

It was absolutely fantastic to see so many runners getting involved in this brilliant event to support Venture Trust. The money our runners raised equates to almost 200 hours of one-to-one support to help young people in Scotland work towards more positive futures. As one of Venture Trust’s first fundraising events it’s been great to see such an enthusiastic turn-out, and a massive thank you to all our runners, bucket-shakers and supporters for helping make it such a successful day. Many thanks also to Walkers Shortbread, Hobbycraft Edinburgh and Tunnock's for their fab support.

We even made it onto Radio 2's drivetime show on Friday evening! You can listen to the clip here.

We’re looking forward to getting involved in more extreme challenges in 2012 – helping give a life-changing opportunity to young people who’ve been in care, have struggled with homelessness, or are struggling to make the transition to adulthood.

See you there?

Greg, our Project Officer for Venture Trust's 'Moving On: Malawi' programme, gives us an insight into a typical day in 'the warm heart of Africa'...

Evictions, house arrests, 'solving circles' over cold cokes, and a rather precarious bridge.... just your typical day then. Find out all about the ups and downs of life in Malawi by downloading Greg's blog entry here.

We're always pleased to hear about people raising money for Venture Trust, especially when it involves cakes, 'nippy dipping', and guitar solos...

RGU:RAG, Robert Gordon University's charities campaign, have been fantastic supporters of Venture Trust for almost two years. They're always unbelievably enthusiastic about raising money for good causes, and are particularly creative when it comes their annual 'RAG week'. We always look forward to hearing what they've been up to, and they didn't disappoint, as Kyna - RGU:RAG's President, tells us...

Between the 14th and 19th of February RGU:RAG hosted a variety of events to raise money for Venture Trust as part of our annual RAG week. These events ranged from the tame to the wild - including bake sales, an acoustic night, a pub quiz and running into the North Sea, or as we call it, "the nippy dip."

This year one of RGU:RAG's main aims was to maintain and develop our relationships with the charities we fundraise for which is why Venture Trust was nominated as a beneficiary of the money raised during RAG week. Our members are invited to suggest any charity they would like to fundraise for, then we hold a vote on which charity we want to support.

We began raising money for Venture Trust since 2010 and have developed a close relationship with the charity. Several of our members have visited the Venture Trust centre in Applecross over two weekends and helped to paint the buildings.

To find out more, have a look at RGU RAG's website. More pictures of RGU:RAG's antics are on our Facebook page. Thanks guys!