JUST over 18 months ago, Sam Adams was a "sofa surfer" relying on friends to put a roof over his head after he left his Chard home at the age of 17.

Now the 18-year-old is living and working at Yeovil Foyer and is hoping to start a college course, and maybe one day go to university.

A self-taught multi-instrumentalist, Sam has developed his musical skills and confidence since moving into the Foyer 18 months ago.

Thanks to a £27,000 grant from the lottery funded Youth Music scheme, the Foyer has expanded its programme of music coaching and recording sessions.

The confidence-building tuition is for residents of the converted former church, which is home to up to 33 young people between 16 and 25.

It is also open to people aged between 14 and 25 from across south Somerset referred to the service by agencies including the Youth Offending Team, Connexions, Children's Social care and the Probation Service.

Extra money from Youth Music has allowed the foyer to increase sessions provided by west Dorset-based music producer and tutor Mickey Wills from one day to two days a week. It has also allowed the Foyer to employ Sam to work alongside Mickey, picking up new skills along the way.

Although he is a resident of the supported housing scheme on Peter Street in Yeovil, Sam had to go through the full recruitment process, as the job was open to anyone. He beat a shortlist of seven other candidates in interviews to secure the ten-hour-a-week post.

Sam said: "I was overjoyed to get the job. It means such a lot to me. It isn't like a job to me, it is something I enjoy so much.

"The job is also teaching me how to be a music leader and how to teach other people.

"I want to do more in music in the future, hopefully go to college and go on to university.

"Before I moved into the Foyer, I was sofa surfing. I left home at 17 and slept outside for a few weeks. My friends and the Foyer helped me out a lot, they helped me get back my confidence. It was a massive relief to have a roof over my head."

The former Holyrood School student, who plays guitar, keyboards and drums, as well as singing and mixing on decks, soon got interested in the music facilities at the Foyer after moving in.

The Foyer's studio has the same recording set up as the pre-production studio at the legendary Abbey Road studios in London, Mickey boasts, and has charted some notable successes in the past eight years. In the first few years, a Foyer resident recorded and released a track using the stage name of Miss Endeavour and, in the early days of the download charts, reached number two in the UK and number seven in Europe. More recently, five-piece thrash metal group Purge of Atlas, two of whose members are residents at the Foyer, have started talks with a record company to sign a contract.

Mickey said: "The music sessions are confidence building. I meet a young person for the first time who has been told they are no good at anything. Maybe they haven't done well at school. With music they are dealing with something they understand.

"Over time they build up their confidence, they are doing something they didn't think they could, and they end up with something to show for it. They end up with a recording, even if is something they can play to their friends.

"I have seem some amazing improvements. I have had young people tell me they have got a job after gaining confidence in their speaking. Before they said they weren't confident speaking in an interview."