Homelessness prevention project,
South Yorkshire
Keys to the Future educates young people about the realities of homelessness and encourages them to prepare themselves thoroughly for when they do leave home.
‘Ricochet’ is a homeless prevention project based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. Over the past year, Peer Educators have run sessions in local schools and other institutions to raise awareness of housing and homelessness issues and prevent homelessness as a result.
1,337 pupils have attended the sessions over the past year. Through sharing their experiences of homelessness with other high-risk teenagers, the Peer Educators build a realistic picture of the effects of homelessness. They ensure that teenagers who have no choice but to leave home know where to go for appropriate support and advice.
In the last year we have also:
- provided housing advice to 440 young people, helping them to find accommodation and get their lives back on track.
- seen three of our Peer Educators nominated for Millennium Volunteer Awards, with one of them actually winning the award.
- Seen three of our Peer Educators achieving a BTEC qualification in Peer Educators, with four more working towards it this year.
The Peer Educators and staff working on this project have been consulted extensively in the development of the sister project in Gloucestershire, and continue to liaise closely with it.
- Bristol
- Gloucestershire
- Knowsley
- London
- South Yorks
- Scotland