A TEENAGER who left school with no qualifications has helped the Prince's Trust develop a plan to support similar young people in Lancashire.

The trust will today set out a blueprint to help young people who are not in education, employment or training.

The blueprint, which identified the barriers that disadvantaged young people believe prevent them from achieving their goals and highlighted gaps in services and support for these young people, is based on consultation with the country's 'hardest to reach' 14 to 25 year olds.

Sammy Jo Riding, 17, from Nelson, who said she was always getting into trouble at school and left without any qualifications, was one of those asked to share her experiences.

She said: "I got kicked out of every lesson. But I had to be bad because it was the only way to fit in.

"All the kids from my area got into trouble. Outside of school we'd smash windows and set light to things.

"But after leaving school with no qualifications I went into the world with nothing.

"I was unemployed, living at home, with no money. I just sat at home and did nothing."

However, on the advice of her Connexions advisor, Sammy Jo got involved in Prince's Trust Football Live programme in Nelson.

Sammy Jo said: "The programme also gave me the responsibility to coach school kids how to play football.

"I have started to believe in myself and am going to take my coaching badges.

"I used to think I can't do this, so why should I bother trying? But now I know I can do things.

"For most kids my age, there's nothing to do round here.

"The only place to go is a local community centre. But that's only open for a few hours twice a week.

"There should be centres for 16 to 19 year olds. We're kicked off the grass when we want to play football. And they stop people setting up bike ramps. That's how a riot starts."

The Prince's Trust is today calling on industry, government and the voluntary sector in Lancashire to further support the most disadvantaged young people, like Sammy Jo, who currently face a very different future to their mainstream peers.

Jackie Tyler, regional director of The Prince's Trust North West, said: "Only by listening to the evolving needs of young people and remaining constantly relevant can we prevent more young people from slipping through the net."

In response to the findings of the three-year consultation exercise, the Trust wants to get more young people into education, support and training, plans to extend its mentoring programme and explore, with its partners, how to provide a single point of contact for young people and further co-ordinate the services that are there for them.