Rock Trust project aims to furnish those at risk of homelessness with vital life skills
Young people in Perth are building their own futures thanks to a new project from youth homelessness charity Rock Trust.
The charity’s Future Builders initiative provides young people affected by or at risk of homelessness with education and employment support alongside access to affordable tenancies, offering them a chance to create long-term positive change in their lives.
Through the project, 10 young people will be given the opportunity to take part in a 12-16 week programme of education and training. They will learn to live independently and build up skills relevant to their personal goals and aspirations.
These include learning home DIY skills, improving maths and literacy levels, first aid training, and developing CV and interview skills. The project also provides those taking part with access to work experience or apprenticeships.
Future Builders is based on a model which has proven successful in England, and has been developed for Rock Trust by the Ovo Foundation, the charitable arm of Ovo Energy.
Seven young people who have recently found themselves homeless, or who are in imminent danger of homelessness, are already benefiting from the project. One of them, 19-year-old Craig, said: “Future Builders will help me learn things that I need for independent living and this will help me be more confident in the future. It will give me skills I didn’t have before and can take forward in life.”
Kate Polson, CEO of Rock Trust, said: “Young people need to have access to good quality affordable accommodation, especially when they take their first steps into employment.
“This project enables young people to take those first steps and have a safe place to call home whilst they do so. We are delighted to be able to offer this kind of support to the young people in Perth.”
Bob Brawn, Perth and Kinross Council’s convener of housing and communities, added: “This scheme will provide vital support to young people as they start out in life. It will help them build their skills and confidence, and set them up for a successful tenancy and a successful life.
“We are determined that young people who need this kind of assistance do not end up slipping through the cracks, which could see them facing homelessness. The current pandemic makes this scheme even more timely, and I am delighted that we have been able to support it.”
