Ref. 30199-20A TEENAGER who says a Swindon support group saved her from a life of crime has warned it would be a big mistake to let it close.

Lyza-Jane Hollands spoke out after hearing that the SMASH youth project, which supports vulnerable young people, could be forced to fold unless it can find extra funding soon.

The 18-year-old, from Westlea, who has turned her life around with the organisation's help, says she is proof that the project works.

And she is angry that a town whose residents often complain about teenagers behaving badly are contemplating washing their hands of a scheme which is tackling the problem.

"I was a teenager with no future, who was taken out of school at 15 because I was always angry and getting into trouble, hitting out at authority, scared, in fact a horrible person to know," said Lyza-Jane.

"My parents had tried everything to help me and I didn't want to know. I rebelled against them, staying out all night, getting arrested and generally throwing their love and affection back in their faces."

After she was arrested for the third time she was introduced to SMASH and assigned a mentor.

"I knew I couldn't get into trouble again or else I would have been in court and very probably in prison," said Lyza-Jane.

"It was very difficult to stay out of trouble but I had that extra contact, a friend who would always listen to me and who was not so close.

"She was always at the end of a phone no matter what time of the day or night for me and for my parents."

After completing a year with SMASH, Lyza-Jane went on to pass five GCSEs and is currently on a business studies course at Swindon's New College.

The teenager has made a passionate plea for Swindon Council to step in to save the organisation from closure, warning that if it fails to act the consequences may be more troubled youths and more anti-social behaviour.

"Before you dismiss this project, please think of all those others just like me who are better people because of it," she said. "And don't you dare complain about unruly behaviour and wayward teenagers who have no focus when you are going to shut down the one place they have to get help."

Lyza-Jane's mum, Ros, said: "There were times when she was the world's worst child and without the project she would be in prison. But now she is a different girl and it is all thanks to SMASH."

SMASH project director Rebecca Rice made a desperate appeal to Swindon Council last week for £78,000 to cover next year's costs.

Its money from the European Social Fund dried up in October. It is also looking for more volunteers to join its 35-strong mentoring team.

Ms Rice said the mentoring scheme had received very positive feedback.

"It really turns people's lives around and if it closed Swindon would lose a valuable service," she said.

Andy Tate