A FORMER soldier is helping people at a drugs rehabilitation centre to learn essential IT and life skills.

Julian Evans, 31 is now in his third year of a degree in business computing at Sunderland University.

He is working at Phoenix House in South Shields as part of the university's Business Bridge project.

The scheme allows undergraduates to pass on their expertise to the business and voluntary sectors while gaining an income and valuable experience in the working world.

Phoenix House accommodates up to 39 male and female residents and is one of only eight similar centres in the country.

Manager Wal Hobson said: "We are unique in starting a new education and training programme 15 months ago to help residents overcome their problems and start over again with meaningful skills such as literacy, numeracy, IT and life skills.

"We took on Julian to help with IT in our new computer room where he is assisting with computing skills, e-mailing and the Internet."

Mr Evans, who served in Bosnia, is also a senior canoeing instructor, and teaches canoeing, rafting, water polo and surfing to residents.