Thanks for taking the time to visit.

I will be hiking 40 miles of the West Highland Way - virtually the entire length of Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park (where I work) - on October 6, the day the trail celebrates its 40th birthday.

I am aiming to raise money for Venture Scotland, which supports vulnerable people in accessing outdoor spaces for their mental health.

Amid Covid, and having just learned they have not been recommended for funding from Glasgow City Council Communities Fund, the charity needs support more than ever in its mission to make profound and lasting impact on young people's lives.

#ChangingYoungLives

https://venturescotland.org.uk/

My story: 

Imagine for a second you are 18-years-old. Jobless. Adled by a few too many recreational drugs. Depressed in all but diagnosis. Thrown in a police cell overnight after a plastic pellet gun incident on your estate. It can probably only go one of two ways for you, from that point. Up, to a brighter future, or down, deeper and down, to a life off the rails, away from functioning society.

I don’t have to imagine that scenario, that flip of a coin, as it was once me. More than half a life ago.

Others might still be in that place now. And they’re trying to get out. I’d like to help, in some small way, get some of them there.

One sunny day in Scotland, many many years later, I helped lead a group from Venture Scotland up Conic Hill, overlooking Loch Lomond, to carry out some practical maintenance work, digging out muddy and clogged up ditches.

From initial frustration and ‘do I have to?’ angst, you could literally see their young shoulders relax, attitudes drop, smiles open and satisfaction rise. The group was small but they all, in their own way, blossomed for being outdoors, into nature, physically active and – at least for this time - a long way away from whatever life strife and tribulation had brought them into Venture Scotland’s orbit.

It was a feeling I knew well. After a career in journalism, fatigued by office-based stresses, I walked away and into nature myself, soothed by the volunteering with my local country park, seeing the tangible fruits of my labour. I went back to education, as an allegedly mature student, to study countryside management, and later became a Ranger, upland pathway builder, tree planter and most recently a Land Operations Officer for Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.

But what I have to make clear is that my recovery, from a tricky start, relied not only on a lot of hard work, and shades of luck, but also the unswerving belief of one or two individuals, and family, throughout.

Without their support, which was not always deserved and often unearned (I’m close to tears as I write this) I would certainly not be right here now, in the relative comfort of the present and my new generally happy and contented life.

You need people to look out for you, to give you a guiding hand when life as at its most troubling. You need support if you are to escape from whatever situation you may have boxed yourself into, or where life has taken you against your will. And this is a little of what Venture Scotland provides.

Its latest charity vision sums this up: “We believe that every young adult in Scotland should have the opportunity and support to make positive changes in their lives and to their world, in order that they can develop the awareness, skills and confidence to maintain and improve their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, allowing them to lead a happier, healthier and more fulfilled life.”

Please consider supporting the charity. Amid times of Covid it has become even more vital that our young people are supported in becoming positive members of our society.

Thanks

Kevin Unitt

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.