Annette Brooke pledges support for homeless young people

6.16.01pm GMT Tue 24th Jan 2006

Local MP Annette Brooke has signed up to a parliamentary motion in support of the Foyer Federation's 'Give Us a Chance' campaign. The campaign is about giving young people from disrupted, disadvantaged or chaotic backgrounds the chance to catch up. Homeless young people have, often for reasons beyond their control, missed out on an adequate education. However, young people over the age of 19 are unable to claim housing benefit and study full time, leaving homeless young people with little chance to develop their career.

Annette Brooke said:

"I am delighted to offer my support to this invaluable campaign"

"Young people in difficult situations need to be given the necessary support to realise their potential. The Foyer Federation opens doors for young people trapped by homelessness and I've long been a supporter of the Quay Foyer in Poole."

The 'Give Us a Chance' campaign is seeking to create a fairer system which does not force young people to choose between a home or an education.

The Foyer Federation assists over 10,000 young people each year to escape the 'no home - no job - no home' cycle, by providing a wide-ranging service which includes accommodation, training, job searches and personal support.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Quay Foyer in Poole: www.quayfoyer.co.uk

To find out more and to sign the Foyer Federation's online petition visit www.giveusachance.net

EDM 1074

FOYER FEDERATION'S GIVE US A CHANCE CAMPAIGN

21.11.2005

Lepper, David

That this House supports the Foyer Federation's Give us a Chance campaign to help young people fulfil their potential, regardless of background or financial situation; notes the initiatives already put in place by Government to help achieve this, but expresses concern that young people living independently are often unable to study due to the cost of housing, insufficient funding for further education and the barriers placed on them by the benefits system once they reach 19; calls on the Government to support the activities of projects such as Foyer's which provide accommodation, learning and personal development support to 10,000 young people a year, but whose provision is threatened due to restrictions on budgets for post-16 education and training for disadvantaged learners; and further calls on the Government to agree to address this issue so that Foyer's holistic approach to the development of young people has a sustainable future.

83 Signatures