A GLASGOW film star has launched a programme to help disadvantaged youngsters get into work.

Bafta winner Paul Brannigan visited a group of 18 to 24-year-olds in Maryhill to talk about his journey to becoming a big-screen star.

The Angels' Share actor, of Barrowfield, in the East End, had a difficult upbringing and was sentenced to four years in 2004 for firing a shotgun at a house. He spent his childhood helping to look after his younger brother as both parents were drug addicts.

While serving his time in Polmont Young Offenders Institution, the 27-year-old learned to read and turned his life around.

Now he wants to use his experience to help other young people who may be struggling.

He is working with the My Place Project, which has been developed by charity Progrez. The actor will teach regular drama classes with the group over 20 weeks in a bid to improve their skills.

The group will get the chance of work experience at a range of places across the city, and some will be able to test their skills and confidence by working at T in The Park next month.

Paul said: "I want to instil confidence back into people who feel like they have tried everything and they are not good enough.

"We want to change that and that's what I'm passionate about.

"Being where I have been in my life helps me to connect with people and I need them to leave here in a better place than when they came in.

"They have been in good places already and a lot of them are motivated, just lacking in confidence in some places."

Paul has been working with charity founder Carroll Kelly since he was released five years ago and jumped at the chance to get involved with the project, which is also supported by the Scott-ish Power Foundation.

He added: "I am working on a number of projects across the country but this one in particular will be something that will be really nice to do.

"We might have the opportunity to create a play or something at the end because we have such a long time with them.

"Every person will have work experience and we will have everybody in a place where they are ready to get to work.

"Hopefully by the end we will be able to employ some as mentors and football coaches, dancers and drama teachers."

Ms Kelly said she hoped that the project would "inspire confid-ence in the partici-pants so that they too can make positive changes."

hannah.rodger@ eveningtimes.co.uk