Neet is not a word that has ever been in Stephen Ferguson's vocabulary, although it is a label others would use to define him.

Stephen, pictured, now 18, was in care from the age of eight until he was 16. After years of being brutalised in the care system, he was given a flat in Paisley and his life began spiralling out of control.

"I never thought about the future because I never thought I had one", he says. "I just accepted I would end up dead or in jail.

"I would get up, drink a bottle of cider or whatever I could get my hands on, have all my pals round, play music all day and just keep drinking and taking drugs. I was unhappy and depressed and that was just how I dealt with it."

Stephen - who also became involved in petty crime - has no qualifications, but that is to be expected from a boy who passed through five secondary schools in just four years. He was "Neet", and his prospects were negligible.

However, that has changed. Stephen became involved with the Prince's Trust, which works with young people in Scotland who are struggling with their lives.

After going through a six-day course on building up confidence, self-esteem and social skills, he registered for the team programme, on placement at a youth centre for P7 and S1 children.

Under supervision, Stephen was responsible for the tuck shop, the PlayStation and making sure the children were collected.

It was the first time he had been made responsible for other people, and it was overwhelming. "It felt pure weird, so it did, but it made me want more."

"Meeting people used to be the thing that scared me more than anything. I couldn't face strangers. Now it's all different."

His family and friends do not believe he could have changed. "They all said after a few months my life would be back to the way it was."

That was two years ago, and Stephen no longer cares about what others think. He has more important concerns, such as his new job as a team leader on a youth project in Greenock, which starts next week.