Somebody Cares Scotland is proud to announce the official launch of its innovative Youth Employability Retail Initiative, ‘special things’, a pioneering programme designed to provide meaningful work experience and essential skills training for secondary school pupils aged 16-17 in Aberdeen.
The charity has formed exciting partnerships with Bucksburn Academy and St Machar Academy, enabling pupils from both schools to gain valuable real-world retail experience in a supportive, educational environment. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in preparing young people for their future careers while addressing the skills gap in the local retail sector.
The unique retail shop will operate with rotating seasonal themes throughout the year, starting with Christmas, creating diverse and engaging learning environments that will help young people develop crucial workplace skills including customer service, teamwork, stock management, and professional communication.
"We're thrilled to be working with Bucksburn Academy and St Machar Academy to create genuine opportunities for their pupils," said Dr Yekemi Otaru, Chief Executive of Somebody Cares Scotland. "This initiative goes beyond traditional work experience by providing structured, ongoing support that will genuinely enhance these young people's employability and confidence as they prepare for their next steps."
The programme will particularly focus on supporting pupils who may face additional barriers in the job market, need support building resilience and confidence or are at risk of leaving school without achieving their full potential. Each participant will receive individual mentoring, skills assessments, and tailored development plans designed to help them progress toward further education or employment opportunities.
Irene Stove, Depute Headteacher at Bucksburn Academy commented: "The Bucksburn Academy wing are very excited to be working in partnership with Somebody Cares on the new charity shop. Some of our young people will be working in the shop, learning retail skills including stock taking and customer service as well as other valuable skills for life and work. We are looking forward to seeing our pupils flourish in this supportive environment that will develop their confidence to look at pathways beyond school which will potentially have a life changing impact on them as they reach adult hood and begin to make decisions about life after school.
As a school we have a clear focus on pathways and have been developing our pathways programmes in the wing over the last few years. The partnership with Somebody Cares will enhance the curricular offer for young people and enrich the real-world opportunities that we give to our learners."
Derek Berstan, Depute Headteacher at St Machar Academy added: “special things is a brilliant initiative that offers pupils real-world experience in retail. Its focus on skills development aligns perfectly with our skills agenda, and we look forward to hearing from the young people about their experiences as they begin applying for jobs, apprenticeships, and further education. These experiences will add another layer of support to ensure that all our young people progress to positive destinations.
The partnership complements our school vision and values: I belong; we achieve, creating opportunities through community and partnership.”
Operating Wednesday to Friday at 1-3 Great Western Road, the new shop will serve the dual purpose of providing quality pre-owned goods to the Aberdeen community while creating a work environment where young people can thrive. The shop will be staffed by a dedicated Shop Manager with experience supporting young people, ensuring each pupil receives appropriate guidance and support.
The initiative represents a significant investment in Aberdeen's young people, addressing youth unemployment while creating sustainable pathways to career success. By combining retail operations with education and mentoring, the programme creates a unique model for youth development that benefits both participants and the wider community.
The retail space opens to the public on September 25th, with Bucksburn Academy pupils resuming their first shift on September 26th.
For School Partnership Enquiries:
specialthings@somebodycaresscotland.org