A BBC News story published today highlights the stories and experiences of young people in care, and highlights the importance of consistent, positive relationships. Venture Trust's Inspiring Young Futures programme supports young people in care to develop the skills and relationships they need to reach positive futures.

X-Factor contestant Ashley John-Baptiste (who was formerly in care himself), has been making a film for the BBC about young people's experience of the care system. As part of his research, he meets one boy who'd lived in 35 care placements, who tells that "one set of foster carers used to send me and my brother away at Christmas because they said that was family time". He meets another who finds herself with all her belongings in black plastic bags in the back of a taxi - having been given so little notice of the move that she'd not had time to pack.

However, he also reports finding great resiliance and motivation amongst those who've been in care:

"I don't want to be in the system no more. I don't want to be in the care system. I don't want to be in no benefits system. If I have a good education, I can obviously get a good job" - Sara, young woman in care.

Ashley's comment in the article - "I'll say to people you can't change your past, but you can change your future" - is strikingly similar to the message of Venture Trust's programmes. Venture Trust's Inspiring Young Futures programme is specifically desgined to help young people in care deal with the challenges they face, and to develop the skills they need to look ahead to more positive futures.

You can read the full story, entitled 'Foster Care: Meeting the boy who lived at 35 address' on the BBC's website.

We're thrilled to announce that Venture Trust has secured funding from the BIG Lottery Fund Scotland's Life Transitions Fund.

Venture Trust’s Inspiring Young Futures programme will receive £696,354 over three years to support care leavers and carers in Glasgow and Inverclyde. The project will help young people aged 16 to 25 to improve their confidence and self esteem as they make the transition to adulthood. As well as support in looking for jobs and courses, the young people will learn how to manage relationships, communicate effectively and sustain a tenancy.

David Haines, Funding & Contracts Officer at Venture Trust said “We are absolutely thrilled to be receiving funding from the Big Lottery Fund, because it will enable us to give over 180 young people a real chance to take control of their futures. We’re excited and energised by the prospect of guiding our beneficiaries through challenging life transitions, and equipping them with life skills, self-belief, and the confidence to fulfil their potential. Thanks to this grant’s long-term stability, we will be able to create more effective and wider-reaching support networks for greater numbers of beneficiaries in the coming years.”

You can read more about BIG's announcement of this news over on their website.

We're delighted to announce that staff and customers at Sainsbury's Quartermile in Edinburgh have chosen Venture Trust as their charity of the year.

Over the year, we’re really keen to maximise our partnership with Sainsbury’s Quartermile. We’ll be promoting our work in store, putting collection tins on tills, and asking staff and customers to get involved in our events. Keep an eye out for us in store!

We also welcome suggestions for how we can really make the most of this opportunity. If you've for an idea for an in-store fundraising event that customers would love, then don't be shy, get in touch!

Donate it to Venture Trust!

Do you have an unwanted vehicle taking up space, but you don’t want the hassle and expense of disposing of it? Venture Trust is here to help!

Venture Trust has partnered with GiveaCar to help you dispose of your unwanted vehicles in a safe, legal, and environmentally friendly way, while supporting Venture Trust’s vital work in the community.

How does it work?

It couldn’t be easier! All you need to do is contact GiveaCar on 020 0011 1664 quoting Venture Trust as your chosen charity or fill out the form online at www.giveacar.co.uk/charities/venture-trust. They will arrange for a collection agent call you in order to arrange a convenient pick-up time.

What happens next?

Your vehicle is picked up, usually between 1-3 days. It is then sent to scrap or, if road-worthy, to auction. Even if the vehicle is scrapped, Venture Trust will still receive between £40 and £160.

Donate a vehicle today by calling Giveacar on 020 0011 1664 quoting Venture Trust as your chosen charity or fill out the form online at www.giveacar.co.uk/charities/venture-trust.

We're really pleased that more participants from our 'Transitions' programme have taken the time to share their thoughts and reflections on the experience...

"My name is fravian and i had an experience of a life time when i was in Scotland with the venture trust. I learnt new skills like time management and so on. Also the experience helped me to refocus and to get my life back on track. The course is really an eye opening. I didn’t even know that this experience was gonna be this exciting. I can reassure you that these 10 days that you gonna spend here at venture trust will be the best days in your life. You will get a chance to do activities such as abseiling, rock climbing, and coaststeering etc. You will regain a new confidence level that you never had before. I will advise you to just take that chance and your life will change for the better forever".

Fravian

"Hey, venture trust is something that If you want to make a change in your life go for it!!!!! Getting told I was coming up 2 days before was quite daunting and I felt quite nervous about it. But that soon changed as soon as I met everyone willing to make a change in their life as I did, we had something in comon straight away. And from there we all set off to have fun and reflect on our lives. It has made me actually reliese a lot more than I thought and I will take it all away back home and im so proud of myself for sticking in and making a little effort will go along way. There isn’t a much better feeling than some achievement".

James

"Easy Mush.... Just a few words. Most people think that the venture trust course is a fun 10 day holiday, yes maybe it is in some ways it is but it is also a course where you have to you get you mind working in ways in which you never have done before because you take the easy way out all the time. Since I have been here I have had no bad distractions as it is out in the wilderness where there is no drugs, no alcohol and no one I know, it’s got me thinking about all the bad things in my life and thinking of ways to change it for the better. I’ve met some amazing people and it has done me the world of good. See I came here thinking this is going to be rubbish but I’m leaving with so many different skills and my head or i know exactly what i want in life and now i can also say that i have the motivation to do something instead of getting so far then bottling it. If it wasn’t for venture trust i don’t think i would be able to lead a normal stable life so thank you to the people who run it and thank you to the people who fund it".

Love from Sammy R (lil one)

"Hi to all the blog viewers, all I can say is this course has changed my outlook upon life. It has made me realize that I have skills that I didn’t even know that I had. I can’t really say much because you will haft to come on the course to experience what I have and it is an amazing feeling. You will meet great staff and have a laugh. It is hard at times put you will push though it and once you have it is a great feeling that you have succeeded throughout the course. I personal didn’t think I would learn anything because I have done this type of thing before but I guarantee that you will.

If you are worried about coming the staff will make you feel at home as soon as you step foot out of the bus there are very greeting and polite.

I was worried about what types of people are going to be on the course, made me nervous to begin with but it turned out the people are very nice and easy to talk to. They will proberly been in the same situation as you or have been so that would give you a conversation starter to talk about to someone or just even ask where they are from and it will begin from there. Ave gone on quite a bit now so come to venture trust you will love it!!!"

Steph

Well done to all the participants on this programme, and many thanks for taking the time to share your experiences.