WHEN Sarah Elsmore was 14 she felt like the world was against her.

The Blurton teenager went on a downward spiral after finding out her mother had been diagnosed with cancer, which led to the youngster being expelled from school.

Now Sarah, who is 17 years old, is eyeing a career as a care assistant after being awarded Student Of The Year by the North Staffordshire YMCA Training Centre.

And she was joined at yesterday's ceremony by her proud mother Jill, aged 48, and about 150 people who were recognised for their achievements in the YMCA's training programme.

Sarah said: "It was only a couple of days into Year 10 at Blurton High School when I was expelled.

"My head was just all over the place and I couldn't accept my mother had cancer.

"After being kicked out of school, nowhere else would take me on and so I wasn't doing anything."

At 15 years old, Sarah found out about the YMCA's training scheme and signed up.

She has already secured two jobs as she sets out on a career she never dreamed would happen.

She said: "I'm working half of the week in administration and the other part as a care assistant in a care home.

"I want to be a care assistant and look after people."

Sarah's brother, Andy, aged 21, scooped the Student Of The Year award last year and is now a painter and decorator.

Jill is also part of the YMCA's start-up scheme.

The mother-of-six and grandmother-of-four has been clear of cancer for six years.

She said: "When I was diagnosed I was devastated and the hardest part was telling my children.

"I'm happy looking after my children and helping with the grandchildren, so I'm not doing the courses with the YMCA for a job, I just want to improve my own self confidence and learn new things."

Sarah was joined as Student Of The Year by 18-year-old Brett Palmer, pictured left, also from Blurton.

The teenager enrolled on the scheme in 2008 and now has an apprenticeship with Staffordshire County Council in grounds maintenance.

He said: "I needed a kick up the rear.

"I finished school and was just doing nothing and without this course I would be on the dole, 100 per cent.

"My message to anyone is pull your finger out and do something to get a job."

The event saw both youngsters who had progressed through the community programme, and parents who were part of the start-up scheme, collect certificates to mark the vocational courses they had passed.

Danny Flynn, North Staffordshire YMCA chief executive, said: "A lot of what we do is building confidence as most young people here have had a poor experience in a teaching environment in the past.

"The YMCA is not just about managing homelessness, but helping develop people."

The training schemes have been running in their current format for the past five years.

It is estimated about 50 people a year find full-time employment following the YMCA's training.

Tina Cotton, training manager, added: "Our courses are developed to suit what employers are looking for.

"We also introduce them to higher education as a lot of people never dreamed they could go to college or university."