Young people across Dundee are bursting with creativity, ambition and untapped potential, and at the end of June we celebrated our graduating class of students that now have the skills and belief to take the next step toward a future they once thought was out of reach.

Helm supports young people aged 15 to 25 as they move toward employment, independence and long‑term stability. Through qualifications, hands‑on vocational training, work placements, housing support and wrap‑around guidance, Helm has become a valuable space for many in need of new opportunities to grow.

We have been thrilled to work with Helm to fund and run an NPA in Computer Games Development (Level 4), a new SQA-accredited games qualification at HELM for NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) young people. This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of creating video games using the free, cross-platform engine, Game Maker.

Dundee is often called the UK’s capital of gaming, home to industry giants like Rockstar, Ninja Kiwi, and Hyper Luminal Games. Yet many young people in the region face barriers that make entering this industry feel impossible.

Helm’s games development course changes that trajectory. It gives young people a first step into the industry, a foundation to access further education, or simply giving them the confidence to find what they are passionate about and pursue it.

Lynne Lindsay at Angus Council - "For many of our young people participating in games development course, this course has been more than learning to make games - it has been an opportunity to overcome barriers, believe in their abilities and take positive steps towards education, employment and personal growth. This course has successfully engaged young people who have experienced barriers to education, helping them grow in confidence and open up doors to further learning opportunities."

Dundee is one of six Waypoints at Into Games, where we have focused our efforts to improve accessibility to for under-resourced people to learn more about the games industry and provide them to tools in which to thrive within it. Scott Cambell, our Dundee Learning Lead at Into Games, had been running the course, ensuring that students are getting the best possible experience they can.

Over the span of the programme, students learn the ins and outs of every part of game development and the pipeline to have a base knowledge of what they can expect from the industry. The 13-week course encompasses 8 weeks of core learning, with students building their own fully playable game from week 4 onwards - incorporating all of that knowledge into their work and creating a game design document to showcase their process.

The skills they gain are highly transferable. Graduates have progressed into college courses in cybersecurity, computing science and social science, proving that confidence and opportunity can unlock entirely new futures.

It’s not just the students experiencing the positive effects from the course. Families have noticed the positive change from students gaining confidence throughout the course, and seeing them learn their passions and be excited to learn.

Donna Beveridge-Miller, Parent of Graduate - "My son had been out of full time education for 5 years when he was offered a place on the Into Games - Games Development course... Scott Cambell’s practical and transparent industry insights and experience, immediately set [my child] at ease, increasing his confidence that pathways into the industry were accessible to non school leaver. None of the various support mechanisms we have experienced to date have been as impactful as the format Scott is delivering through Into Games... Getting our Young Adult onto a constructive path has relieved a huge pressure on our family and we are all very grateful. Continued availability of this provision is imperative."

So, what’s next for these graduates? After celebrating with a pizza party and small game showcases with friends and family, several students are now planning their nect journey, using the tools they have developed during The course. Out of the seven students on the very first course, 4 begin college in September, 1 is on a college waiting list and 1 begins an evening class at Abertay University as part of their AHEAD programme.

Scott Cambell, Dundee Learning Lead - "I am proud of each of my students, they are the best bunch of people and have done really well. It didn't take long before each of them were better at making games than me! They all have bright futures ahead of them if they continue on their upward trajectories and receiving the support needed."

Clare Taylor Brown - CEO of Helm Training Dundee - "We're incredibly proud of the success of our first cohort of young people completing the National Progression Award in Computer Games Development. The programme has achieved fantastic levels of engagement, with learners developing valuable technical, creative and problem-solving skills while growing in confidence throughout their journey. This marks an exciting milestone for Helm as we continue to expand opportunities that inspire young people and equip them with the skills they need for the future."

The impact of this course reaches far beyond game development. It’s about confidence, direction and a young person realising they can build a future they’re proud of. As the next cohort prepares to begin at the start of August, we continue work hard to prove what’s possible when accessible learning meets genuine care. We can’t wait to see what this next cohort will create and watch their confidence and skills grow with each week of the course.