School drop-outs on flying course

Teenagers who have dropped out of schools in Nottinghamshire are being offered flying lessons.

Crime reduction charity Nacro is offering the six-week course in flying gliders at RAF Syerston to youths not in education, employment or training.

The charity said boosting their confidence and skills would help increase their chances of gaining qualifications or employment.

If the pilot scheme is successful it will be rolled out across the country.

The Nacro Air League Flying Scheme also involves learning about the RAF, taking part in team building challenges and gaining basic literacy and numeracy skills.

'Huge benefits'

Charity officials said many of the 16 to 18-year-olds on the course have been made homeless.

Thom Young, from the charity, 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.

I feel much more positive about the future now Michael Freeman Course participant

"We feel confident that this will provide huge benefits to the young people taking part and to the general public through the positive contributions these young people can and will make to society."

One course participant, Michael Freeman, 17, left home at 15 and ended up sleeping rough.

He said: "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, it's been so much better than I was expecting.

"I really enjoy the physical aspects of the course and flying the glider over Belvoir Castle was the best thing I've ever done in my life.

"I feel much more positive about the future now and I'm determined to get a job when I finish here."