Young people in schools across Erewash will be given important ‘lessons in life’ this year, thanks to an innovative and thought-provoking project provided by Erewash Borough Council.

 

Called ‘Reality Street’, the project will see pupils in local comprehensive schools learn all about what it takes to live independently, how to manage a household budget, where to get advice on financial issues and details of crucial topics like taxes, debt and credit.

 

The Council’s Housing Options Team has successfully secured money from Derbyshire Primary Care Trust’s Health and Housing Fund to provide the in-school project for Year 11 pupils in 2010.

 

‘Reality Street’ is delivered by Broxtowe Youth Homelessness to 15 and 16-year-old students through a series of pioneering and hands-on sessions that aim to prepare young people for what budgeting really means if they live independently, what costs they are likely to encounter and how to plan for unexpected costs.

 

The activity will get underway over the next two or three months and will be supported by ‘peer educators’ who have lived in supported accommodation and have experienced homelessness.

 

Councillor Carol Hart, Erewash Borough Council’s Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Community Engagement, said:

“We are delighted to be able to ensure this pace-setting activity goes into our senior schools in Erewash and is another example of the hard work put in by our housing options team and our partners to prevent homelessness among young people.