A YOUNG woman who felt “lost” after dropping out of college has turned her life around with an apprenticeship and is encouraging others to follow her example.

Charlee Vaz, 21, who grew up in Higham Hill, Walthamstow, dropped out of sixth-form college at the age of 17.

After feeling confused about what career path to take she enrolled in a Leadership through Sport and Business apprenticeship.

Now working as a junior cashbook accountant at an inter-dealer broker firm in London, Charlee wants to encourage other youngsters in similar situations to not give up hope.

She said: “The environment I was in was with people with low aspirations and I ended up dropping out of college because I just wasn’t enjoying it.

“I was just a bit lost and I didn’t really know what to do.

“Where I grew up everyone is either doing nothing and living on benefits, or joins a gang.

“I was stuck in that rut until I made the decision to change my life, and thanks to LTSB I was able to pass my exams and after my apprenticeship I was kept on full-time to do the job I love.”

The Leadership through Sport and Business programme is a charity that helps young people from disadvantaged backgrounds secure apprenticeships at blue chip companies.

As part of the programme students complete a football coaching course to gain leadership skills. Charlee plays on the reserve squad at Leyton Orient Women’s FC and is also a qualified football coach.

After completing the apprenticeship Charlee set her sights on becoming a chartered accountant and is now studying towards that goal.

 She said: “When I dropped out of school four years ago I could never have seen myself working full-time in accounting and studying.

“Apprenticeships are a great way to earn money while studying and I would encourage others to go for it.

“I got my life moving in a good direction with this apprenticeship.”

The Leadership through Sport and Business programme was founded by City worker David Pinchin in 2012.

Mr Pinchin said: “The great thing is that when we are able to launch a young person’s career with a blue chip company this doesn’t just transform their life. The effect extends to their family and often then to the local community. The impact can be geometric.”

For more information about the programme click here.