Young people in Erewash who are homeless or living in hostel or refuge accommodation are to take part in a pace-setting project to give them knowledge and practical skills to help them live independently.

 

Erewash Borough Council will launch the trial scheme this month, with 10 young people aged between 16 and 25 taking part in the pilot.

 

The training course will focus on four key areas over a month-long period – including two innovative practical sessions on DIY skills and cooking and healthy lifestyles.

 

The trial course has been launched thanks to support from several partner organisations, including Baggaley Maintain, a local repair and maintenance company who provide a repair service for the Council’s temporary accommodation and will be using one of these properties for the DIY/Tenancy Management session. This will enable the young people to have ‘real life’ training on the basic do-it-yourself skills needed to live independently – things like how to change plugs, locate fuse boxes and water stop taps etc.

 

A second practical session will take place in a kitchen setting to give the ‘trainees’ some tips on cooking and healthy lifestyle.

 

A further two sessions will look at budgeting, to help drive home the importance of household finances and how to live within a budget, and confidence building to help the young people develop their independent living and lifestyles.

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

 

“This is a really exciting project and one that will have a very real and positive impact on the lives of the young people who attend. Those who are in the 16-25 age group and find themselves homeless or living in hostel and refuge accommodation are very vulnerable and this is another go-ahead initiative that aims to help them find their feet.

 

“The basic skills they will learn through the four sessions will, I’m sure, give them a great start in learning to live independently and successfully.

 

“I would like to thank all those who have helped us with this pilot project, it is another great example of partnership working.”

 

The project – called the Pre-Tenancy Training Course – has been put together by Erewash Borough Council’s Housing Options team and most of the sessions are free thanks to the backing and support of partner organisations, including Domino’s Pizza who are donating pizza for each session.