Meet the young people

Hope Howes

Youth Employability Apprentice 2026

Giving Back has given me the opportunity to work in both cafe and office environments. This is then given me confidence and work experience. This confidence is not just limited to work, but also helps me improve socially with friends at university.Thanks so much to the Giving Back team for this experience.
Monte Wiggin

Youth Employability Apprentice 2026

This helped me further my career in writing, by giving me the chance to work independently, but also getting used to an office environment. It has also given me the chance to meet new people, who are trying to achieve a similar goal to me.Who are like minded and it’s encouraging and it’s helped me to get out the house and get active, when I wouldn’t be doing anything otherwise.
Eshan Sterling

Youth Employability Apprentice 2026
Before joining Giving Back’s Dundee’s Youth Employability Programme. I was unsure of many things and uncertain about my future. After taking part in the Youth Employability Programme I am now more confident in my abilities as a newly found adult and this programme has given me the opportunity to work on many aspects of myself, as well as understand more about the adult world and of itself. Overall I must say that the Youth Employability Programme has been a positive experience.
Frank McMaster

Youth Employability Programme 2026
Giving Back has absolutely changed my life for the better. I have met lots of new people and gained real life skills. All the Giving Back staff have been the nicest people I’ve met in a long, long time.I really look forward to working with Giving Back in the future as a potential peer workerThan you again to all the Giving Back staff for ginger me this opportunity.
Kiero Hunter

Youth Employability Apprentice 2006
I’ve really enjoyed working with Giving Back and overall, it has been a really positive experience. I’ve learnt a lot of new things, being with them and I am happier with who I am. They have helped me a lot with my confidence, working, people skills, mental health and meeting new people. My placement allowed me to build up my confidence, working skills and people skills. I was scared to give it a go in the beginning but I ended up really enjoying it as time went on and it changed me a lot, giving me life lessons and skills that I will use for the rest of my life, and help me step out my comfort zone and meet new people.
Eila Robertson

Youth Employability Pilot Apprentice 2025
Giving Back helped me with my confidence and allowed me to get involved with the design and delivery of events for the community. This developed my skills and has helped me talk to others learn new skills and will help me in the future.
Casey Gray

Youth Employability Pilot Apprentice 2025
Giving back gave me the chance to work in Tico delis and develop my confidence and work skills.
Harvey Gay

Youth Employability Pilot Programme 2025
Giving Back helped me make new friends and have new experiences. My work placement was an incredible experience with a lot of nice colleagues. Giving Back had a relaxed environment, being part of fund raisers and events gave me new talents. it was a great experience and opportunity.

The Youth Employability Programme

The Youth Employability Programme was set up in 2024 to assist young people aged 16-25 who are neurodivergent or need mental health support. We use the outcome star model together with personal development plans, looking at the young person holistically and developing coping mechanism and strategies to support them on their journey to employment. Working with Giving Back and in partnership with local businesses, the youth apprentice develops new skills, including barista training, mental health training, breathing techniques, grounding etc.

Following our successful pilot programme employing three youth apprentices, we were able to increase to five youth apprentices in 2025/26 and have five local businesses working in partnership with us.

Once open, Sakura, our new community café and hub, will provide a base for the youth apprentices to work and also provide access to further support and employment skills.

YEP Presentation 2026

Local Partnerships

In our second year of the YEP we are working with five local businesses who provide work experience to our youth apprentices. Thanks to them all for taking part in this programme and providing valuable support and work experience.

A Youth Achievement Award (YAA) is an accessible nationally recognised Scottish Qualifications Authority customised award for young people which provides a framework to accredit their personal learning and achievement, and which is recorded on their Scottish Qualifications Certificate (SQC) alongside their school and college qualifications. It is credit rated on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF)

It takes a youth work approach and follows a plan-do-review format, allowing young people to gain or develop skills through involvement in activities at various levels of responsibility, providing a progression pathway.

Giving Back has become a delivery hub for the Youth Achievement Awards, with several trained staff supporting learners in their journey and we now offer the following: Hi5, Dynamic Youth Award and Youth Achievement Award.

For more information about Youth Achievement Awards, please see https://www.youthscotland.org.uk/awards/youth-achievement-award-yaa/

Youth Achievement Awards

Neurodivergent support

The YEP pilot demonstrated a clear requirement for a resource to enable neurodivergent young people to easily locate relevant support, groups, and activities. Prior to leaving Giving Back, our Peer Worker initiated a crucial mapping exercise to address this need by connecting with identified services. This is scheduled for completion in the next year.

Furthermore, a significant development occurred at one of our beach events where we were approached by a software developer. Impressed by Giving Back's community impact, they offered their skills to help. We are now collaborating to convert the mapped service information into a user-friendly app.

We have completed an initial set of neuro aid cards which were developed following a request from apprentices for a more engaging collection to support young people's communication in school as well as with family and friends. A pilot test with a group of neurodivergent families is scheduled to begin shortly.