A REALITY TV star is on a mission to motivate young adults in Bournemouth to start working.

Carl Owen, who found fame on BBC3 show Invasion of the Job Snatchers, visited Leo Training on St Swithun’s Road yesterday to tell a group of young people defined as ‘NEETs’ – not in education, employment or training – his own inspiring story.

Carl, originally from Warrington, had been through periods of homelessness and committed petty crime before impressing with his hardworking attitude during the television series and winning an apprenticeship with F.A. Lambe and Sons butchers in Christchurch.

Carl said he was honoured and flattered to be asked by Leo to talk to the group and hopes they take something positive away from it.

“A lot of youngsters out of work are very able and have lots of potential,” he added. “They want to be able to apply that ability.

“But I’d always say to them it is better to have any job than no job at all. Just keep focused.

“When I was younger I stole some money from a bank.

“I was living for the day and not thinking about the consequences of my actions.

“But doing the right thing is important and you should remember who you are and what you want.”

The trainee butcher also heaped praise on Leo Training for successfully using limited resources to do something so constructive.

“I was astounded by the effort the tutors put in here,” he said. “Others gave time to me when I really needed it. I think life is about giving back when you can – and I hope I am able to keep on doing things like this. I want people to feel like they can pop into the butchers and speak to me.”

Leo’s head tutor, Deb Green, said she was delighted Carl had agreed to meet her students.

She added: “He was like them and they want to know what it is like to get a job and into the world of employment.”