A TEENAGER is the latest success story of a scheme which has got hundreds of jobs for young people in Derby.

Naomi Mason was one of 18 young people to take part in the 100th Prince's Trust programme at Derby College.

The college, in Osmaston Road, has been running the 12-week courses since 1998 and is aimed at getting youngsters aged between 16 and 24 to learn skills which are relevant to finding them work.

Members of the 100th team, which finished the course today, will now tell an audience about how the Prince's Trust course turned their lives around.

They will speak at a presentation night at Mackworth College, in Prince Charles Avenue, tomorrow.

Naomi, 17, of May Street, Derby, said: "I went on work experience at Morning Rise Supporting People, in Oakwood, which helps people with learning disabilities, and they offered me a job with them.

"I came on the programme to gain some confidence which I have definitely achieved – I feel like a new person."

Naomi and the rest of her team were on a residential course, where they completed two weeks of work experience and also helped renovate the garden at Oakwood Residential Home.

One of the team was David Acton.

The 19-year-old, of Chellaston, said: "I had been in trouble with the police a few times when I was out of work.

"But now, since being on the team, I know that I won't go back to my old ways.

" I want to become a mechanic and I am going back to college to do an NVQ."

Youngsters who sign up for the course take part in a range of activities, which include working towards a City and Guilds certificate, community projects, work placements and job search skills.

Mir Juma, the Prince's Trust East Midlands' regional director said reaching the milestone of leading the 100th course was a "massive achievement for both the trust and the college".

"The young people are just some of the hundreds in Derbyshire whose lives we have helped by supporting them into work, training and employment," she said.

Jama Doobeh, Prince's Trust team leader at Derby College, said: "Our course is designed to challenge and promote young people and Naomi is an example of many of our successes.

"Naomi had the opportunity to work for Morning Rise Hostel for her work placement and has been offered a job.''

He said that the college had had considerable success through the Prince's Trust

"One of our students also beat competition from all over the United Kingdom to win an award for the Young Achiever of the Year 2008 at the Prince's Trust's Celebrate Success Awards."