WIREDGOV

Hundreds of 'hard-to-reach' care leavers and young carers are having their life prospects turned around thanks to a groundbreaking new initiative that takes them out of their comfort zone and into the Scottish wilderness.

Organised by the Edinburgh-based charity Venture Trust, the 'Inspiring Young Futures' (IYF) programme helps 16 to 19-year-olds build confidence by taking them through a series of challenging outdoors activities.

By challenging young people through pursuits such as canoeing, kayaking, hill walking and abseiling they are inspired to make positive changes and develop the confidence and motivation they need for the difficult transition to adulthood.

Just a little over a year after it began, the programme is already showing positive results among those who take part, increasing individual employability, self-confidence and promoting more stable lifestyles.

Keith Brown, Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning, experienced the course first hand when he joined in with a group taking part in a rock abseiling exercise near Aberfoyle today.

The group - which included young people from Edinburgh, Clackmannanshire and West Dunbartonshire - were able to take part in the day's activities by making use of one of the charity's state-of-the-art mobile training bases.

Mr Brown said:

"All children deserve the chance to fulfil their potential and there should be no difference between the chances of young people in care and their peers.

"By providing activities and events like those I've experienced today it is clear that the Inspiring Young Futures programme are providing the kind of opportunities often denied to those in our care system.

"The work being carried out here is challenging, inspiring and not to mention good fun, but has a serious purpose. It is clear that by meeting the challenges put in front of them on these expeditions, the young people involved can bring about lasting personal changes."

It has resulted in 40 per cent of participants going into employment, education or training/volunteering shortly within months of completing the course. Four out of five participants went on to increase their use of support services after they returned to their local communities.

Last year saw 173 young carers and care leavers take part in the programme which begins with three-day expeditions at various locations across Scotland and culminates in a demanding 10-day course at the charity's centre at Applecross in Ross-shire.

Thanks to financial backing from Inspiring Scotland's 14:19 fund - which uses the principles of venture philanthropy and is part-funded by the Scottish Government - the programme is expected to help more than 390 young people in the coming year.

Duncan Dunlop, IYF programme head, said:

"The young people we work with are frequently ill-equipped to live independently after leaving the care system, leaving them vulnerable to homelessness, offending behaviour, unemployment and substance miss-use, among other risks.

"The Inspiring Young Futures programme aims to help young people recognise what they need to change; then we give them the confidence, motivation and tools they need to make those changes.

"One of the ways we do this is to present them with physical, emotional and social challenges that take them into a personal 'stretch' zone where powerful learning takes place."

Andrew Muirhead, Chief Executive of Inspiring Scotland, said:

"We are delighted that support from Inspiring Scotland has allowed the Venture Trust to invest in two state-of-the-art mobile training bases which operate in both local community and wilderness settings such as Aberfoyle.

"These units allow young people to experience different challenges which help build their confidence and self-belief in challenging situations, and help them find strengths and skills to make positive changes in their lives."

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