Teenager turned his life around

A TEENAGER from an Ipswich estate has turned his life around after helping to clean up the town's neglected neighbourhoods.

Six months ago Richard Rose, an 18-year-old from the Triangle Estate, was unemployed and didn't know where his life was going.

Now he has found a job, boosted his confidence and gained new life skills after joining a work placement run by Nacro, a charity which helps vulnerable 16 to 19-year-olds.

Mr Rose earned praise from Nacro after working as a community caretaker in areas of Ipswich like Greenwich, Maidenhall, Stoke Park and Chantry Park and now has been given a job with the charity.

Mr Rose said: “I always wanted to get my life going and I've made the breakthrough.

“I didn't have much going for me before. My confidence was low and now it is getting stronger and stronger.

“I have enjoyed every minute of my work and made new friends.

“I've also enjoyed opportunities like arranging a football match between my colleagues during the summer.”

When Mr Rose left school he worked as a motor mechanic but realised it wasn't for him.

He and a friend took a Nacro course learning about motorbikes and it was then that he found out about the charity's Entry to Employment (E2E) programme.

Now his key worker Denise Bartram has spoken out about his hard work, to coincide with Not in my Neighbourhood Week (October 15-21), a government scheme to highlight how communities can be made safer and how crime can be reduced.

She said: “The placement gave Richard a great opportunity to build his confidence, learn new skills, and take his life in a new direction.

“Nacro's aim is for every young person to be given access to a variety of vocational training, basic skills and personal and social development.”

Anyone interested in following in Richard's footsteps should call Nacro on 01473 729230 or write to 247 Felixstowe Road, Ipswich, IP3 9BN.