A PIONEERING project is helping vulnerable young people get a home - and a career.

A PIONEERING project is helping vulnerable young people get a home - and a career.

A joint scheme between Glasgow Homelessness Partnership and Milnbank Housing Association, in the East End, has been hailed a major success, scooping the Outstanding Achievement in Housing in Scotland Award.

At a London ceremony staged by the Chartered Institute of Housing, the project was praised for helping 11 Glasgow teenagers leave the care system, including 18-year-old Joseph Evans, who is now on the road to a brighter future.

The pilot project offers young people an apprenticeship paired with a tenancy in a bid to get them out of care. The teenagers are also given a full-time support worker to help them with running a home at a time when they're very vulnerable.

Of the 11 who have so far been helped, nine are living independently and working while the other two are close to being given their tenancies.

Joseph, who was placed in care aged just six, has benefited greatly by the innovative plan and has now begun a four-year course with City Building.

Joe, from Cambuslang, said: "I would never have been able to do this by myself and I really don't know what I'd be doing if it wasn't for the project.

"I'm more confident and I really enjoy learning and making new friends. Without this I'd probably be doing nothing. It's changed my life."

Michael Murphy has also had his life turned around after moving into his own flat in Dennistoun and starting a four-year apprenticeship. The 17-year-old was placed in care when his dad died, his mum wasn't around and his step-mother couldn't care for him.

He said: "It's hard to get started on your own. I've been given loads of support and I know how to budget now and how to run my house.

"I'm really independent and I know that I'm not going to end up homeless. The project gave me the push I needed."

Catherine Jamieson, head of the Glasgow Homelessness Partnership, said: "We see such a change in the young people we help. They go from being quite introverted to having much more confidence and strong self-esteem.

"It's vital that we steer teenagers coming out of care away from the trap of homelessness and into a more positive future."

As part of the pilot, Milnbank Housing Association was the first association to provide training placements and accommodation.

The other teenagers are working in the association's maintenance service or as office administrators.

And the scheme has been such a success it is hoped it will now be rolled out across the city over the next two years.

The scheme - funded by the Scottish Government's Innovation Fund to develop projects to prevent homelessness - could then benefit up to 75 young people.

Councillor Elaine McDougall, the city council's executive member for Social Work, said: "An awful lot of hard work has gone into making the project a success and it is great to see that work recognised, but the award is a tribute to the young people involved.

"There is a plan to extend the project across the city and give more young people the chance of a new home, a good job with training and support."

Alan Benson, director of Milnbank Housing Association, said: "We were keen to participate because it sought to help a vulnerable group.

"Our aim was to work closely with social work to show that a successful scheme could be established for care leavers. We are delighted with the progress the young people have made and they now have genuine prospects for the future."