A YOUNGSTER from a turbulent background has over-come homelessness to turn his life around with a little help from his friends.

Stuart Wozniak spent cold nights sleeping rough in Blacon or staying with friends after he left home when he didn't get on with his mum's new boyfriend.

But things are now looking up for 18-year-old Stuart who has got a flat in Dinas Close, Blacon, and a job working in the gym at Blacon High School.

The organisation NACRO, an independent, voluntary organisation working to prevent crime, has supported Stuart throughout his ordeal with its Floating Support Project and believes he is an inspiration to other young people in Chester.

Explaining his background, Stuart said: 'When I was 15 I was at my mum's and she had a new boyfriend. I didn't really get on with him and I wanted to go. It was my decision.

'To be honest, I didn't make things easy.

'So I went to my dad's but he was working away a lot and I ended up at my nan's,' said Stuart, who fell out with his grandmother and chose to take to the streets.

He became homeless just a few days before his 17th birthday in the cold month of November. Many people would have been brought down by such an experience but Stuart remained stoical.

'It was a few days before I went into the hostel,' said Stuart, who holds himself entirely responsible for his actions which saw him going through the lowest period in his life.

'I was in Blacon. Luckily the weather wasn't too bad. I remember walking about. I think it was about 5am. I knocked on the door of one of my friends and I stayed there a couple of days,' said Stuart, who then managed to get a place in a hostel for the homeless where he spent three months.

It was then that Stuart was referred to NACRO which found him his current flat which he has furnished himself.

Stuart, whose many jobs have included painting and decorating, says he's got the place looking just as he wants it. And he's managed to get a job as a fitness instructor at Blacon Fitness Centre at Blacon High School as part of a modern apprenticeship which involves an NVQ in exercise, fitness and instructing.

He said: 'I love it. It's the best thing I've ever done. I've had jobs where you are sitting there and the days just drag. With this job you get to meet lots of people and the staff are really nice.'

Stuart says he is a fighter but admits he could have chosen the wrong path in life and got into all kinds of trouble if not for supportive agencies which are making a positive impact on the deprived community.

The teenager, whose 16-year-old brother Mathew is doing courses run by the Blacon Young People's Project, explained: 'Blacon has got a bad name but it's a minority of people.

'I think you get a minority everywhere.

'I think a couple of years ago the minority was bigger than it is today.'

Stuart left school with six GCSEs and loved English lessons, but admits at that stage in his life he 'preferred messing about'.

'About two years ago I was one of the minority. I was not causing trouble but I was in trouble with the police. I was mixing with the wrong crowd and I ended up nicking a car and getting arrested and banned from driving.

'NACRO is there to give extra support for young people and when I was in trouble they were there for me. NACRO has helped me a lot.'

Nowadays he is on good terms with his family and looks back on the time he left his mother's as a positive experience.

'I don't think I'd be the same person if I stayed at mum's. I don't think I'd have the same determination to do well. I would have had it made for me.'