A FORMER homeless man from Burnley who hauled himself off the streets has ‘graduated’ to a brighter future.

Self-belief is the key to overcoming hardship, according to Damien Bennett, 28, who has got himself back on his feet with help from Calico’s Elizabeth Street project.

Jobless and homeless back in February, and with a baby on the way, he moved into the homeless hostel with his partner Laura.

Now just over six months on he has much more to look forward to, thanks to their baby Lea Rose and a 12-week training course designed to bolster his employment prospects.

He is now looking to become a support worker for the housing landlord so he can provide help to enable more people to live independently.

The couple have now secured their own home in Burnley and Damien is determined to make the most of the fresh start.

He said: “The project has done a lot for me and my family. When I arrived there I was homeless and my self confidence was very low.

“It was the staff there who helped me get my confidence back and gave me the will to go out and achieve things, such as completing Calico Academy.”

The academy offers students a chance to learn new life skills and how to become involved in their local community.