Ross Henderson
Supported Programmes
DFN Project Search
“If you feel like your anxiety is really bad or if you have a disability, don’t let that bring you down. If you don’t try, you’ll never know! I might be deaf, but because you’ve got disabilities it doesn’t make you different to anybody else.”
Ross Henderson is thriving in his new career with ScotRail. The 20-year-old, from Westhill, is a Customer Service Modern Apprentice based at Aberdeen station and is a valuable member of the frontline staff.
For Ross it has been the ideal progression after completing the DFN Project Search programme, which is delivered in partnership by NESCol, the University of Aberdeen and Values Into Action Scotland.
Project Search provided a stepping stone after school, where he had suffered from bullying which had impacted on his confidence.
As ScotRail’s first deaf apprentice, Ross has flourished as part of the team and plays a key role in assisting passengers in a variety of ways.
He said: “If you feel like your anxiety is really bad or if you have a disability, don’t let that bring you down. If you don’t try, you’ll never know! I might be deaf, but because you’ve got disabilities it doesn’t make you different to anybody else.
“My Modern Apprenticeship has shown me what it’s like. It’s proven to me that I can do the job.
“I feel my confidence has really grown. I deal challenges I’ve never dealt with before. The support I’ve had has been amazing.”