A Dundee-led partnership headed by Into Games has been awarded the Amazon Regional Creatives Fund, unlocking a major new effort to support young people from working-class and low-income backgrounds into careers in the games industry.

The funding brings together three organisations with long-standing commitments to young people in the city. The Hot Chocolate Trust, with 25 years of creative youth work experience, offers drop-ins, one-to-one support and facilities for music, art and filmmaking. HELM, supporting 15–25-year-olds for over four decades, provides employment support, vocational training, work placements and housing assistance. They join Into Games, the national charity improving socioeconomic diversity in the UK games sector, whose work has helped over 400 people into games roles and engaged more than 35,000 young people through clubs, workshops and national programmes.

Together, the partners will establish a new regional ‘Waypoint’ for Dundee, a coordinated network helping 12–19-year-olds understand and navigate pathways into the games sector. Local studios Ninja Kiwi, Outplay, and others will support the work through mentoring, guidance and direct engagement with young people.

Declan Cassidy, CEO of Into Games, said:

 “Dundee has always been a powerhouse of the UK games industry, and this funding allows us to ensure its young people can be part of that future. By working closely with Hot Chocolate Trust, HELM and local studios, we’re creating clear, supported pathways into games for those who’ve historically had the least access. This is the start of a long-term commitment to making Dundee a national leader in games careers development.”

Dave Close, CEO of Hot Chocolate Trust, said:
“Amazon’s support has enabled a powerful partnership. Into Games brings deep industry insight, Helm offer strong skills and careers expertise, and Hot Chocolate Trust excels in creative youth engagement. Talent is everywhere among Dundee’s young people, but opportunity isn’t — together, we can help change that.”

Clare Taylor Brown, CEO of HELM, added:
“We’re excited to join this partnership, which connects creativity, opportunity and Dundee’s incredible young talent. At Helm, we see how potential grows when young people are supported to explore their passions. Working with Into Games and Hot Chocolate Trust opens up real pathways into Dundee’s thriving games industry.”

In 2026, the partnership will deliver a significant programme designed to make Dundee a model for youth-focused games careers work. Planned activities include:

• A major games careers festival in central Dundee
• Games development careers workshops in every secondary school
• A weekly after-school game development club at the Hot Chocolate Trust
• A National Saturday Club with Dundee & Angus College supporting BAFTA Young Game Designer Award routes
• A new SQA-accredited games qualification at HELM for NEET young people
• Training for youth workers and careers professionals on games career pathways
• Up to 10 paid internships for graduate-level candidates from low-income backgrounds in leading Dundee studios
  

The initiative aims to make Dundee a shining beacon for youth work in games careers, offering young people flexible, supported opportunities to develop skills and explore creative futures. The model developed in Dundee will also shape Into Games’ wider regional expansion, with additional Waypoints planned for Barnsley, Hartlepool, Birmingham, Brighton and London.