A CHARITY is appealing for people to help house youngsters who are coming out of care.

Barnardo's Housing Project finds homes for 18 to 21-year-olds who have just come out of care and need stability.

The charity is asking for help from single people, couples, and families with children.

Accommodation providers are paid a small fee by Barnardo's, and also by the young people themselves. Barnardo's offers training and support groups for accommodation providers.

Carol Preston, of Barnardo's, is coordinating the new service.

She said: "Sometimes the youngsters do have issues, but often they are young people who just need a period of stability in their lives.

"In our experience, the youngsters often form a good relationship with the people they are living with and continue to visit them long after they have left and gone on to live elsewhere.

"It's a big step to take a stranger into your home and obviously quite daunting. It's also worth remembering that it's daunting for the young person to go and live in a stranger's home.

"We try to match up the young person and the provider as best we can, and we're always honest about any issues that the provider needs to know about."

Applicants are assessed and checked by the charity and social services, and police checks are carried out. The scheme has so far been run only in Northumberland.

Anyone interested can contact Carol on 01670-714400.