Unlocking potential: Supporting rehabilitation through the power of the outdoors

Guest blog from Jenny Paterson, CEO of Venture Trust

At Venture Trust, we work with people in Scotland whose lives have been shaped by adversity – including poverty, trauma, poor mental health, and homelessness. For many, these experiences are compounded by contact with the criminal justice system. Our work is focused on supporting rehabilitation, reducing reoffending, and helping people build the skills, confidence, and stability they need for a more positive future.

Venture Trust works with people aged 16 and over who are currently involved in the justice system as a result of offending or alleged offending behaviour. To be eligible for the programme, participants must also meet at least one of the following criteria:

• be subject to a community order (e.g. a community payback order)
• be subject to another intervention delivered or directed by justice social work services (e.g. diversion from prosecution, structured deferred sentence*)
• currently have an allocated justice social worker

Many participants have complex and overlapping needs, and few have had the opportunity to engage with services in a meaningful, sustained way. What makes our approach different is the combination of consistent one-to-one outreach, group-based personal development, and the use of Scotland’s outdoors as a powerful setting for change. At the heart of this is a trusting relationship with a dedicated outreach and support worker – someone who listens without judgement, helps people reflect on their choices, and supports them to set goals and plan for the future.

Participants take part in group sessions in their community, followed by a wilderness journey lasting up to ten days. These journeys are physically and emotionally challenging – a chance to step away from everyday pressures and confront unhelpful patterns. In this unfamiliar environment, people build resilience, emotional regulation, and a sense of agency. For some, it’s the first time they’ve been trusted to make decisions, work as part of a team, or believe in their own potential.

Crucially, the journey doesn’t end there. After returning, participants continue to receive support to take practical steps forward – accessing housing or mental health services, reconnecting with family, and exploring employment or education. Our aim is long-term change, not a short-term fix.

Over the last decade, more than 1,000 justice-involved participants have completed a wilderness journey with us. Feedback shows reduced risk-taking behaviours, improved self-awareness, and stronger motivation to change. One participant told us: “I thought I had nothing going for me, but this showed me I can do more. It gave me the strength to face things properly.”

We work closely with social workers, justice services, and community partners across Scotland, and we welcome referrals from any stage in the justice journey. We have worked in partnership with the Scottish Government Justice Directorate for more than 20 years, and our core funding for this service is provided through this relationship. This long-term support reflects the national confidence in our model — and the consistent results we deliver for individuals, communities, and the justice system as a whole. We believe it is vital to invest in services that create space for reflection, growth, and hope.

We believe that everyone deserves the chance to change. Venture Trust is here to support that change – and to help build safer, stronger communities in the process.