Helping young people express themselves can be the turning point toward better choices.
Station House Media Unit (shmu) empowers communities in Aberdeen’s regeneration areas through creative media, digital inclusion, and skills development, supporting young people and adults facing barriers including those with justice experience through trauma-informed, person-centered approaches. This work is delivered through shmu’s CashBack NorthEast’s three-strand approach:
Youth Media Project: Offers person-centered creative opportunities for young people aged 10–18, helping them build confidence, develop skills, and set meaningful goals through engaging media-based activities.
Training Academy: Provides coordinated, hands-on support to secondary school pupils identified as at risk of not achieving a positive destination, focusing on personal and vocational development through media and employability modules.
Engage: Supports young people with experience in the justice system by offering meaningful group activities, volunteering opportunities, and holistic, person-centered support aimed at breaking the cycle of offending.
Discover how one young person’s experience in the project helped them open and reflect on the decisions they’ve made
Lisa’s story
Location: Aberdeen City
Programme: shmu (station house media unit) CashBack NorthEast Training Academy
At just 15 years old, Lisa faced significant challenges in her education and personal development. A Christmas leaver and non-attender at Northfield Academy, Lisa was referred to the shmu Training Academy by her Guidance Teacher. Diagnosed with ADHD, she struggled to concentrate in traditional learning environments and had difficulty finding motivation often saying she needed “something worth getting up for.”
Despite a turbulent school experience, including a period of expulsion and a full year of missed education, Lisa showed resilience. She returned to school midway through S3 and worked hard to catch up. However, by S5, she was expected to study subjects she had little interest in, leading to a decline in motivation and engagement.
A Tailored Approach to Support
Lisa began her journey with shmu through a 1:1 support session with an Employability Support Worker. These sessions focused on building trust, exploring her interests, and identifying realistic goals. It quickly became clear that Lisa had a strong interest in construction, particularly bricklaying.
Rather than engaging in the media-based activities offered through the wider programme, Lisa chose to focus solely on employability support. She worked on building a CV, developing job-search skills, and researching college courses and career pathways in construction.
Opening Doors Through Partnership
Although Lisa was too young for a placement with Robertsons Construction, a long-standing partner of the programme, shmu identified an alternative opportunity through Barnardo’s Works. Lisa was supported to attend an information session and successfully referred to their Introduction to Construction course, which she began in January 2025.
Throughout this period, Lisa demonstrated a high level of commitment, attending regularly and engaging positively. Her proactive attitude and growing confidence were a testament to the supportive environment and tailored approach provided by the shmu team.
Managing ADHD and Building Confidence
Lisa benefited greatly from the holistic support offered by the programme. Staff with lived experience of neurodiverse conditions shared practical strategies to help her manage her ADHD. These small but impactful adjustments helped Lisa improve her focus, manage stress more effectively, and recognise her own strengths.
“The (shmu CashBack) course really helped and put me in touch with the construction course, and that has opened doors for me and helped me to learn about the industry that I really want to do.” – Lisa
Lisa successfully completed Barnardo’s course and received positive feedback from both staff and peers. She decided to apply for college to continue her journey toward a career in construction. In a mature and thoughtful decision, she chose to wait for a year to ensure she was fully ready to commit.
In the meantime, shmu continued to support Lisa through post-school programmes, working closely with Barnardo’s and Skills Development Scotland (SDS) to ensure a joined-up approach to her ongoing development.
Want to learn more?
- Find out more about shmu Cashback funded projects
- Read their 2023-24 annual report to find out more about the project’s impact
- For more examples of how CashBack projects support children and young people towards positive destinations, see our 23-24 impact report
