Somebody Cares Scotland is delighted to announce the reopening of its themed retail employability shop on Great Western Road in Aberdeen this Friday, January 30 at 10am.
The shop will transition from its successful Christmas operation to launch as a weddings and gifts store, offering an exciting new retail experience while continuing its mission to support young people's development.
The shop, trading as ‘special things’ (1-3 Great Western Road, AB10 6PZ), will stock a carefully curated selection of pre-owned wedding dresses, occasion wear, and gift items including jewellery, decorative signs, tableware and more.
The Christmas shop proved an outstanding success, providing work experience for six young people who collectively gained 102 hours of practical retail skills. The initiative also generated over £6,000 in income for the charity between September and December 2025.
"We wanted an enjoyable experience for the young people, one that would help them gain new skills in retail and build their confidence," said Yekemi Otaru, CEO of Somebody Cares Scotland. "It's been just brilliant to see the positive impact so far. We can't wait to reopen this Friday."
The weddings and gifts relaunch welcomes five new young people with additional support needs to join the team. These individuals are from partner schools Bucksburn Academy and St Machar Academy, with whom Somebody Cares Scotland has established a strong collaborative relationship.
The employability shop aims to provide meaningful work experience for young people who might be at risk of leaving school without qualifications, with a particular focus on those with additional support needs. The retail environment offers a supportive setting where participants can develop practical skills, boost confidence, and gain valuable experience for their future careers.
Special Things will be open Wednesday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.