A SINGLE mother from Middlesbrough is well on her way to a rewarding career - after signing up as the town's 300th Millennium Volunteer.

Emma Thomas, 21, of Coulby Newham, joined Millennium Volunteers - a national scheme which gives youngsters the chance to try their hand at various jobs - as a way of helping in the community.

Now she's hoping the experience will help gain her a place at university.

"I left school at 16 and went to London, did various things and was just too cocky for my own good," she said. "Then I had my daughter Heaven, who is three, and decided I needed to do something more substantial."

Miss Thomas now helps out at Coulby Newham Youth and Community Centre twice a week and is completing an access course to enable her to do a youth studies degree at the University of Teesside.

"Luckily, I have a wonderful family who help me with Heaven and through the Millennium Volunteers scheme I'm also hoping to start a Duke of Edinburgh award. It's really given me the push I needed."

Young people aged 16 to 24 can get involved with the Millennium Volunteers scheme by calling (01642) 873382.