A SPORTING chance is being given to unemployed young people by regeneration bosses who are breathing new life into Glasgow's East End.

They have linked up with Glasgow Life, which runs the city council's sports venues, to pluck jobless school leavers from the dole queue and into full time employment.

The partnership has proved a life changer for some, such as 21-year-old Sam Maxwell, who turned her back on the classroom at the age of 15.

She left Whitehill Secondary with no qualifications and no job prospects.

Today she said: "I started dogging school when I was 15. I didn't like school. I was bored with it. I just thought, 'This isn't for me' and just walked out. I never went back. I didn't listen to my parents. I was out of control."

Sam lived next to the Dalmarnock Centre and was persuaded to take on voluntary youth work.

The development manager was Yvonne Kucuk – now a councillor – who persuaded her to get involved in voluntary youth work.

It kept her off the streets and then one day Ms Kucuk persuaded Sam to apply for a new training course Clyde Gateway was planning to launch.

It was sports-based and Sam was keen on boxing.

She gave it her best shot and landed a place on the 12-week course. Sam passed with flying colours and left with a clutch of certificates.

Like all qualifying students she got the promised job interview with Glasgow Life.

Weeks later, she received a phone call and immediately accepted the post of receptionist at the £113million Emirates Arena, which she can see from her bedroom window in Lily Street.

She said: "This is really a new start in life for me.

"It's amazing. The course has made me a better person.

"I have got my first job and even met my boyfriend on the course.

"My life has completely turned round since getting on the Clyde Gateway course. I never thought this would happen. I'm so lucky

"I met First Minister Alex Salmond when he came to the arena have also met Sir Chris Hoy. I'm going to get myself an autograph book in time for next year's Commonwealth Games."

Teenager Stephanie Blair had just about given up hope.

She was an unemployed receptionist and as a 19-year-old mother was struggling to make ends meet.

Stephanie also got on the course and was "amazed" at how flexible organisers were.

She was able to plan her days around the needs of her two-year son.

The former Eastbank Academy pupil said: "Friends thought it would be the ideal course for me. The tutors were great. They gave me time off when I needed it."

The sports-based course also saw her tackle football, which was compulsory, and used to illustrate the positive lessons from working with colleagues as a team.

It has also boosted her self-confidence, which saw her give a short speech during a graduation ceremony held yesterday at the swimming complex at Tollcross for the 22 young people who qualified and now have jobs with Glasgow Life.

Stephanie added: "I am thrilled at getting a job as a receptionist at Crownpoint Leisure Centre. I enjoy getting involved with the customers and the children who attend the centre's nursery. I would love to stick with it."

Scott Magee does not lack confidence, but he struggled to complete the course when his grandmother died.

"I saw her for 10 minutes the day before she died," said the 22-year-old, who also lives in Dalmarnock.

"It was a rough time. But I decided to keep going and complete the course, if only for my gran. It is what she would have wanted me to do."

He is glad he did. His ambition is to be a personal trainer and he has been given a job as a lifeguard at the Bellahouston Sports Complex. Glasgow Life has promised to help him realise his goal in the coming years.

His potential life-saving role is more fulfilling than his previous work, which saw him stack shelves in a frozen food store and clean carpets. It also beats the dole queue.

"I used to go with the flow," said the former St.Mungo's Academy pupil. "But this is the first time I had things happen. I feel as if I have achieved something through this course."

Clyde Gateway targeted unemployed 16-25-year-olds in the East End and neighbouring Rutherglen and hired Street League to deliver the three-month programme. Eight others took up job opportunities elsewhere or went into full-time education at college.

Councillor George Redmond, vice-chairman of the Clyde Gateway Urban Regeneration Company, told the successful students Glasgow had transformed itself over the last 10 years and was now one of the world's top cities for sport ahead of rivals such as Madrid, Spain, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Regeneration chiefs are proud that the £105,000 programme has resulted in full-time work.

Councillor Redmond added: "This is not just a job for the next six months. It is a job for life.

"Every one of these young workers is proof of Clyde Gateway fulfilling our promise that people living in the local communities will benefit most from all of our regeneration efforts.

"I am delighted for them because this was a demanding and challenging training course, but it was all worth it, with the reward of a secure and enjoyable job that also offers excellent future career prospects."

Councillor Archie Graham, chairman of Glasgow Life and the council's spokesman for the Commonwealth Games, said: "It is fantastic so many of those who have completed the Street League programme have secured jobs at our facilities, where they will have the chance to work on some of the world's biggest international sporting events.

"Some of these venues will be at the heart of the 2014 Games and projects such as this are ensuring we leave real and lasting legacy for the people of Glasgow.

"The sport sector is a significant driver for the local economy, supporting about 10,000 jobs, so it is vital we continue providing training and employment opportunities in this area."

gordon.thomson@eveningtimes.co.uk