Friends in need

THIS TIME last year, Charlotte was every parent's nightmare vision of adolescence gone wrong.

She had been excluded from school, was in trouble with the police and would physically attack her parents.

Her life was entering a downward spiral and she was losing control fast.

But over the past year an extraordinary transformation has occurred thanks to SMASH the Swindon Mentoring and Self Help group.

The charity has a pool of 35 volunteer mentors who befriend youngsters who have been excluded from school or are getting involved in crime or drugs, and help steer them towards a brighter future.

With the help of mentor Gail Waite, 35, Charlotte (not her real name) has shed her former life and exorcised her demons.

Having completed her GCSEs, the 17-year-old, from West Swindon, is now looking forward to starting her A-levels, and has a clear idea of what she wants to do with her life.

Charlotte is one of 24 teenagers between 13 and 18 who are currently paired with SMASH mentors.

Meeting for a few hours each week, the volunteers build up a bond of trust with the youngsters.

They help them grow in confidence and make the most of their abilities.

The pairs usually enjoy leisure activities together, such as ice-skating or going to the cinema.

Over a period of a year, the adults help the young people achieve a set of goals drawn up when they first meet.

Youngsters are paired up with adults who share similar interests Charlotte and Gail started Tae Kwon Do classes together.

The pair hit it off straight away, and very soon became good friends.

Charlotte firmly believes that without Gail, she would be in prison.

She explained why the scheme had been so successful.

"The best thing has just been having someone to talk to about my problems," she said.

"Although I am close to my parents again now, there are certain very personal things I find it hard to talk to them about.

"Also, the people at SMASH want to help you. They don't just criticise what you have done or what you are doing.

"If I did something wrong I would just talk to Gail about what had happened and how I could have behaved differently. I have also responded well because I chose to take part. If people tell me what to do I usually tell them where to shove it.

"Here they respect you enough to let you make the decision to take part."

Charlotte is amazed at how much she has changed. She said: "When I started I was not a nice person, I was horrible to everyone, including my family.

"I was very angry, and if anyone provoked me I would attack them.

"Now I have got my anger under control."

Her ambition in life is to become a child psychologist.

She said: "I want to help other teenagers who are in my position. I know what it is like."

Charlotte believes her problems started when she was bullied at school.

She started to stand up for herself, and gradually became more aggressive, to both teachers and pupils.

At 15, she was excluded, but continued her education via a home tutor. She was referred to SMASH after getting into trouble with the police.

Gail, a part-time youth worker who has been a mentor for two-and-a-half years, said that she knew right from the start that Louise had the potential to be a success.

"I just knew there was something there," said Gail, whose husband Paul, 50, is also a mentor.

"I knew she was intelligent and articulate.

"When we first met, Charlotte came across as being very confident.

"The first thing she said to me was 'If I don't like you I'll tell you.'

"But underneath I felt she wasn't confident. Over the year, I have seen her confidence and self-esteem increase.

"Now she is less self-serving, and more likely to do things for others.

"I'm really pleased with what she has achieved. I think she's amazing."

Charlotte now helps other young people in Swindon. She is an ambassador for the Swindon Challenge a series of activities held during the summer holidays designed to help youngsters over 16 develop new skills.

Two weeks ago, SMASH's successful track record was recognised by the Government, which gave the charity £25,000 to refurbish its offices, in The Limes, a former children's home in Green Road, Upper Stratton.

Rebecca Rice, 36, manager of SMASH, which was set up in 1999 by Swindon Council's Youth Offending Team, believes the scheme is so successful because everything is voluntary.

She said: "The key factor is that the youngsters don't have to take part.

"They do it because they want to, and they also know that the adults are volunteers, and genuinely want to help them.

"Also, we are not in a position of authority, telling them what to do.

"A relationship develops in an informal way, and often the young people find it easier to relate to their mentors than social workers."

SMASH asked the Evening Advertiser to protect the identity of the young person we interviewed.