Game helps youngsters to live alone

A BOARD game designed to equip young people with the know-how to live independently has been launched in the Capital.

The brainchild of SmartLiving youngsters, a group that supports young people with their tenancies, the board game, which is based on Snakes and Ladders, provides advice and aims to help young adults make the right choices about living on their own.

SmartLiving volunteers often give talks to their peer group in secondary schools, youth clubs and careers centres about homelessness and what is involved in successfully maintaining a tenancy.

SmartLiving project co-ordinator Irene Blackburn said: "SmartLiving was set up in response to LinkLiving support workers repeatedly hearing young people say, 'I wish I'd known then what I know now', and seeing too many young people getting tenancies easily but then struggling with rent arrears, having difficulties with neighbours and facing risks, all because they didn't have a clue what they were taking on.

"To help young people avoid these problems, we wanted the right kind of information and advice to reach them."