A PROJECT has been launched to help young people prepare for running their own homes.

The Skills for Life initiative is being run by Housing Hartlepool, the not-for-profit company that runs the town's former council housing stocks.

It is being piloted in Dyke House School, where Housing Hartlepool staff are teaching Year 11 pupils skills needed to be successful tenants.

The project was launched after research revealed a high failure rate among young people setting up a home, especially those leaving parents for the first time.

Angela Fusco, assistant resident participation officer at Housing Hartlepool, said: "We want to help young people gain a wide repertoire of skills that will enable them to maintain their tenancies and live independently."

The Dyke House pupils have already taken part in workshops on different themes, including healthy eating on a budget, getting on with neighbours and work, training and education.

The final session will take place on Saturday, at a Housing Hartlepool property in Briar Walk, where students will be set practical tasks, such as stripping wallpaper, cleaning windows, changing fuses, cleaning the bathroom and washing the pots.

Those who successfully complete the project will be awarded a certificate endorsed by the Chartered Institute of Housing and the local education authority.

It is hoped to formally incorporate the initiative into the school curriculum.