16426/1A TEENAGER from Trowbridge who turned her life around after being homeless and on drugs is raising money to travel to Africa to help a village in need.

Jennifer Austin, 19, has worked to overcome her problems with the help of young person's charity Amber, and is now raising sponsorship money to go and help build a school in a Ugandan town.

She said: "When you have been homeless and had nothing you have a better understanding and appreciation of things and that will help me when I'm out there."

The former Clarendon College pupil left school at 16 and decided to leave home and make her own way in the world.

She found a job and a flat but fell into drug use, taking cocaine and ecstasy, and her life began to fall apart.

She said: "My parents weren't very happy about me moving out but accepted it was my choice.

"I had a little bit of money and I got into drugs. I was young and stupid and I ended up with nowhere to go.

"I could have gone home but I didn't want to. I wanted to sort myself out."

Miss Austin went to Amber for help in the summer and has not touched drugs since August.

She spent some time at the charity's Marlborough base before moving back to its halfway hostel in Bythesea Road, Trowbridge.

Despite the temptation of being back in the area where she first fell in with drug users, she is determined to stay away from that life.

She said: "It is tempting being back but I have got too much to lose and I realise that.

"I am not going to mess everything up just because I can't handle being back in this town."

Ms Austin heard about a project to build a school in Uganda being run by Christian group African Revival, and now plans a sponsored bike ride to raise the £500 she needs to fund her trip.

As well as helping others the project will give her the chance to fulfil her ambition to travel and see parts of the third world.

"I have always wanted to travel but before I never thought I would be able to travel and help others as well. It is Amber that has helped me find what I really want to do."

She plans to cycle the 36 miles from Hilperton Marina to the Amber site in Marlborough, on a bike being provided by the owners of the Lock Keeper's Cottage in Bradford on Avon.

Anyone who wishes to sponsor her can contact Amber on (01225) 759900 or the Wiltshire Times newsdesk on (01225) 352491.