Scheme to help youngsters cope on their own launched (From The Northern Echo)

Scheme to help youngsters cope on their own launched

1:00pm Saturday 17th November 2007 in

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A PROJECT to help young people live independent lives in east Durham has been launched.

The idea is to help people aged 16-25 to stand on their own two feet and not drain their parents resources or end up on the streets.

East Durham Homes, Centrepoint and Easington District Council have been working together on the scheme.

Andrew Burnip, the council's homelessness and housing advice manager, said: "Many young people lose, or are unable, to secure a home because they have not developed the skills to live independently."

The aim is to help them with the life skills needed to manage and sustain a tenancy.

The initiative called Easington Life Wise Project has initial funding for 18 months from North Peterlee Pathfinder and District of Easington Homeless Prevention Fund.

The project came about from the work of Heather Lane, the welfare and debt advice officer at East Durham Homes.

She found that young people needed advice at an earlier stage, preferably prior to a housing allocation being made.

The project will provide training workshops as a way of helping young people sustain or prepare for tenancies and thus improve their health and financial management.

The accredited workshops will include areas such as managing a home, assertiveness, living on a budget, dealing with debt, cooking and nutrition and sexual health.

Mr Burnip added: "We are delighted to be working in partnership with East Durham Homes, Pathfinder and Centrepoint to fund and develop this exciting new initiative, which directly links into our work in preventing homelessness across the district.

"We hope Easington Life Wise will enable many more young people to find and keep a home."

The bid was jointly drawn up by East Durham Homes, District of Easington Council and Centrepoint.

It is being supported by Connexions and County Durham Primary Care Trust.

It is hoped Easington Life Wise Project will reach young people at an early stage and encourage more young people to access support services.

These can be provided by East Durham Homes and other support agencies, all of which will aid in sustaining tenancies and reduced homelessness.

For more information contact Mick Turner, homelessness and housing advice officer for Easington District Council on 0191-527-0501.