At the age of 19, whilst studying at Oxford, Verulam first went to Brynmawr, Wales on an international work camp.
In 1934, Peter Scott, previously the instigator of the Quaker work in Brynmawr, decided to set up a Subsistence Production Society (SPS) in the area, and Verulam was appointed as the Area Organiser, where he was known as Jim Forrester, the surname being derived from his family courtesy title Lord Forrester.
[3] The SPS consisted of farms, a bakery and other facilities where members could obtain food and products they wanted in return for work.
[3] In 1939, due to preparations for war providing work for local unemployed people, the SPS collapsed.
After the end of the Second World War, Verulam continued to try to work in Brynmawr by establishing a model rubber factory.