Creating Opportunity Where it Matters Most

Growing Up in Muirhouse

Growing up in one of Edinburgh’s most deprived communities, James Marshall knows how easily life can take a different direction. Today, he is using that experience to help create opportunities for young people through his connection with Spartans Community Foundation, with support from colleagues at OCS.

As a teenager in Muirhouse, crime and violence were part of everyday life. There was constant pressure to make choices that could limit future opportunities. For James, sport became a way forward. It gave him focus and a positive outlet for his energy at a time when many around him lacked that support.

“Sport kept me out of trouble,” James says. “It gave me something to focus on when many other things around me could easily have pulled me the wrong way.”

The Conversation That Changed Direction

One conversation, at the right moment, proved decisive. When James was 15, he was determined to leave school and join the Army. During a few days spent rewiring a motorhome with his uncle, an electrician who later became a lecturer, the conversation turned to what lay ahead.

“I told him I wanted to be an electrician in the Army,” James recalls. “He just asked, ‘Why not do it here?’ I didn’t even know that was an option. School never showed us that path.”

With his uncle’s guidance, James booked his SECTT test and secured an interview with a local firm. He was offered the job before taking his exams and started work two weeks after leaving school. “That one conversation completely changed my direction,” he says.

Discovering Spartans Community Foundation

Spartans Community Foundation was not part of James’s childhood. He first encountered the organisation at 19, hiring a five-a-side pitch with friends on Friday evenings. Only later, through his work and by watching his nephews benefit from Spartans’ programmes, did he begin to understand the role it plays in the community.

“They weren’t around when I was growing up,” he says. “But seeing what they do now, it’s hard not to wonder how different things might have been for some of us if that support had been available earlier.”

What stands out most to James is the environment Spartans creates. Within the gates, young people are safe, supported and treated with respect. Practical needs are met, routines are in place, and there is a clear sense of belonging.

“For some families, knowing their child will be welcomed and fed makes a real difference,” he says. “It’s not complicated, yet it matters.”

Reconnecting Through Work

James reconnected with Spartans in 2017 through his work as an electrician, supporting the site as part of his role. When he later joined OCS, the future of the Spartans contract was under review. James felt strongly that the relationship should continue, not because of its size or commercial value, but because of what it represented.

“It wasn’t about the contract,” he explains. “It was about recognising what Spartans does and finding a way to continue supporting that work.”

With the backing of senior colleagues, the relationship was maintained as a social value partnership, enabling James to explore how the business could offer practical support alongside the Foundation’s existing programmes.

Opening Doors to Work Experience

One early example of what this support can enable came through Coady, a 17-year-old who joined OCS for a short work placement via Spartans. Over five days, Coady shadowed a range of roles, from electricians and plumbers to account management, gaining a clearer picture of the careers available in facilities management.

“What impressed me most was his attitude,” James says. “He asked questions, wanted to learn, and made the most of the time he had. It wasn’t the end of his journey, but it was a start.”

The experience also highlighted what needs to be in place to make these opportunities sustainable. Structure matters. Clear processes, preparation, and ongoing support help build confidence, particularly among young people who may already feel uncertain about stepping into a working environment.

Consistency and Support

The challenges facing young people supported by Spartans are varied. Some have been excluded from school, while others live with autism or face difficult home circumstances. There is no single story. What connects them is the consistent support Spartans provides.

“That consistency is huge,” James says. “It’s a place that keeps showing up for them, even when they don’t yet believe in themselves.”

For James, working with Spartans has also shaped how he thinks about his role more broadly, reinforcing the idea that creating opportunity often begins with listening to colleagues, understanding local context, and acting where support can make a practical difference.

Looking Ahead

For James, Spartans represents hope. Having once benefited from the right conversation at the right time, he is now focused on helping ensure others have the chance to find their own way forward.