A reflection on growth, determination, and the power of support marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, November 2025
CashBack Green Futures by Venture Trust is a trauma-informed, needs-led, employability service for disadvantaged young people. The project provides community-based one-to-one and group support, combining employability training with developmental and outdoor activities.
The programme has a strong environmental focus, with community engagement and volunteering sessions in greenspaces and waterways in more deprived local areas. Sessions encourage participants to:
- Learn about their environment and positive climate action
- Develop employability skills
- Gain volunteer experience
- Develop more inclusive communities.
Roxy’s story
Roxy is a pseudonym
Programme: CashBack Green Futures
Summary of Young Person’s Life Before Community-Based Activity
Roxy was referred to CashBack Green Futures by her criminal justice social worker. She was subject to a supervision order and a community payback unpaid work order for offences that had occurred around 18 months prior to engaging with the programme. Roxy’s social worker spoke highly of her and said that if she engaged, she would get a lot out of the experience.
I contacted Roxy a few times before successfully meeting with her in early summer. I conducted a further two meetings before assessing her as ready for a 5-week employability programme. During that time, I built a close relationship with Roxy, who disclosed chaotic parental relationships, time in care, experiences of violence, followed by a period of drinking and offending. This had taken place in the neighbourhood she had grown up in, but at the time of meeting me, she had been living in a new neighbourhood with close family members, had stopped drinking, and was very determined to stay away from the people and situations that had triggered her offending behaviour.
CashBack Green Futures support worker
Summary of Young Person’s Time in CashBack Green Futures Activity
Roxy had some experience working in hospitality, had tried beauty therapy at college, but wasn’t sure what she wanted to do in the future. She started the 5-week programme in mid-summer, and her attendance remained consistent from then on. The group bonded very quickly, and Roxy set up a social media group chat for them all. She welcomed all the other group members warmly through her naturally friendly nature.
Throughout the programme, Roxy challenged herself through new activities, getting stuck in with courage and enthusiasm. She completed her SQA accredited award, focusing on the work and making good use of the resources to support her learning.
How Project Activity Impacted the Young Person
During an employability session, Roxy identified that she would like to become a youth/support worker. Routes into this work were discussed. As a carer for close family members, she has a wealth of lived experience to draw on. However, her criminal record meant she would benefit from a period of study, training, and / or work placement first, before seeking permanent employment.
We suggested an opportunity for a paid work placement which Roxy was very excited about and signed up immediately. The programme included a weekend training residential. As Roxy was subject to a curfew, we contacted her social worker to arrange to have this temporarily lifted to allow Roxy to attend the training.
CashBack Green Futures support worker
On the night before Roxy was due to attend the residential, she was arrested due to a justice-related issue that interrupted her plans. The programme organisers agreed to save her place for a later intake in autumn.
While waiting for the autumn placement to start, Roxy volunteered at a charity shop and visited the gym. CashBack Green Futures Project staff maintained regular contact with her, wrote an action plan, supported her with her frustrations and completed job applications to become a relief support worker.
Roxy joined one of Venture Trust’s women’s Next Steps wilderness journeys, completing group work prep days and a five-day wilderness residential. She successfully completed the training days with the youth employability programme and is now awaiting a date for her placement to begin.
Want to learn more?
- Find out more about Venture Trust Cashback for Communities funded projects
- Read their 2024-25 annual report to find out more about the project’s impact
- For more examples of how CashBack for Communities projects support children and young people towards positive destinations, see our 24-25 Impact report
