A FORMER drug-taking teenager has turned her life around, thanks to a charity that helps disadvantaged youngsters get into work, training and education.

At 16, Millie Greatrex (pictured left) was getting herself arrested "every other night" for being drunk and disorderly. She was also taking drugs.

Since enrolling on a course with Tomorrow's People, she has ditched the drink and drugs and got her life back on track.

"The transformation from an unruly and disaffected 'no hope' teenager into a bright and witty young lady has been truly impressive," said Jane Porter, Millie's employment adviser at Tomorrow's People.

"Millie has completely changed her life and in doing so has exceeded both her own and our expectations."

Now aged 18, Whitleigh-based Millie has been presented with the Young Person's Full Potential Award by leading venture philanthropy fund the Private Equity Foundation for her transformation.

Millie joined the Tomorrow's People Working It Out programme after being put in touch with the organisation by her social worker.

"You go on a 16-week course which is about confidence building," said Millie, who is due to give birth next month.

"I feel a lot more confident and I met my partner Ashley Crocker there too."

The teenager admitted that at the start of her course, she was drinking heavily but she soon kicked the habit.

"The course gave me something to do instead of getting drunk," she said.

The Working It Out programme runs in disadvantaged communities in nine locations across England and Scotland.

It targets socially excluded and vulnerable young people aged 16-24 on a course which includes a series of "community challenges".

It aims to help the youngsters overcome complex barriers and build a path to self sufficiency through work, training or education.

During her time on the course, Millie revealed an ambition to become a psychologist and has just completed her first year of A-levels with the goal of enrolling at university.

"I am taking this year out and doing volunteer work with Tomorrow's People," she said. "And in September next year, I am going to do an access to higher education course and then either youth work or social work."

Thanking the team at Tomorrow's People, she said: "I have been able to stabilise myself and succeed even when I thought I could not.

"A big thank-you to my adviser Jane for the confidence she had in me that I would succeed."