School drop-outs get flying start

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Many of the group have few or no qualifications

Derby teenagers who have dropped out of school have been given flying lessons to encourage them to get a job.

The 16 to 18-year-olds are taking part in the Air League Flying Scheme set up by crime reduction charity Nacro.

The group are learning to fly glider aircraft on a six-week course at RAF Syerston in Nottinghamshire.

They will also be taught basic literacy and numeracy skills as part of the project designed to boost their confidence and cut crime.

'Tough time'

Michael Freeman, 17, who is taking part in the course, said: "I left home at 15 and ended up sleeping rough for a few months.

"I dropped out of school, so I didn't get any qualifications - I was going through a really tough time and felt like I had no direction in life.

"Coming on this course has just been amazing... I feel much more positive about the future now and I'm determined to get a job when I finish here."

Many of the group have few or no formal qualifications and the aim of the course is to help them move on to further training or employment.

Nacro training organiser Thom Young said: "Gliding is something many of the young people will not have experienced before, so the project provides an opportunity to do something different and interesting.

"If this pilot goes well, Nacro will look a rolling the scheme out in other parts of the country."