"You can't give up now, Charleigh," urges Sergeant Major Andy Allsop. "It's only a rope. You can do it."
Placing one hand over the other, Charleigh eases her way down the 10ft rope to complete the military obstacle course. She may have had one of the slowest times of the day, but Charleigh is delighted. "I can't believe I did it," she says tearfully. "I hate heights and I never thought I'd get round."
Charleigh is one of 30 young people taking part in the Kent Army Cadet Force Association's Youth and Community Project, or Outreach programme, this year. All have been identified as disadvantaged and referred by their local school. Many suffer from low self-esteem and are struggling in formal education, while some have behavioural problems or a history of getting into trouble with the police.
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