THE sky is the limit to what a Leigh teenager can achieve after she won a place on a Royal Air Force training programme.

Charley Taylor flew through several rounds of interviews as part of the selection process having spent six years as an RAF cadet.

The 19-year-old said: “I’m excited about starting my training next month and hope to go onto work as an aircraft maintenance mechanic in the forces.

"I’m looking forward to getting stuck into learning new skills and the opportunity to travel abroad.”

Charley currently lives in supported housing in Leigh after she found herself homeless following a breakdown in family relationships.

North west housing association Riverside Care and Support is a specialist in supporting homeless people into training and independent accommodation.

Charley came to Riverside’s Railway Road in August with low self-esteem and in need of support to find training and employment opportunities in Leigh.

She says that her experience as a cadet and her nine months spent living at Railway Road has taught her teamwork and leadership skills.

Charley has got involved with training and activities at Railway Road, most recently for Street Fit, a 10-week programme of active sessions delivered in partnership with Street Soccer that aims to improve health and fitness levels, leadership and co-operation skills and confidence and self-esteem.

She applied for an RAF training scheme last summer with the help of her Riverside education, training and employment specialist and her Riverside support worker.

Riverside’s Railway Road provides temporary accommodation for single homeless men and women aged between 16 and 65.

The service also offers emergency provision for rough sleepers in the town.