AN ANDOVER teenager will take part in a sponsored skydive for the charity that helped him turn his life around.

Lewis Noble, aged 19, will do the charity skydive on 25 July in aid of Barnardo’s.

Lewis came to the Barnardo’s Phase 2 project in February 2013 after he moved to Andover from Rotherham, where he had been in lots of trouble and often found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Through attending the Phase 2 project he managed to find a job at Asda.

Project worker Mike Anthony said: “We see many young people here at Phase 2 who want a job or to access education but often they don’t want to put the work in.

“This was certainly not the case with Lewis, he was so eager to get stuck in that he became a familiar face here in our office, sometimes coming in as much as four times a week.

“Eventually the breakthrough came when Asda sent Lewis an invite to an interview.

“We worked on some interview preparation and Lewis did exceptionally well and was offered a permanent position.

“This was well deserved as he really did put in the hard work.

“Lewis started work but had a number of transport issues due to him living in a rural area and working differing hours.

“With the assistance of Phase 2 he applied for the wheels to work scheme and now has a moped supplied by Hampshire County Council on a rental basis for a very small fee per month.”

He added: “Lewis is a prime example of how hard work and determination can really pay off.”

Lewis said: “Phase 2 has brought me a step closer to achieving my goals in life, I’ve gained a job, construction skills, access to a moped, learned loads about work and have good role models that I can always rely on.

“I’d recommend this course to any young person looking for some help in their next stage in life."