Advice on training, employment and childcare are just some of the extra services that will be on offer to people when they discuss their housing options with their local authority, said Housing Minister Caroline Flint as she announced the winners of the first of two programmes of 'trailblazers'.

The 12 trailblazers will offer a greater range of advice to people looking for housing, with some moving towards a 'one-stop shop' approach of personalised advice and links to employment opportunities and training.

Currently people have to go to several different places to find the advice they need to make realistic decisions about where to live.

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The trailblazers intend to change this approach by providing advice on the full range of housing options from social housing to shared ownership to privately rented properties, linking this with wider employment-related advice to ensure that people are fully informed and able to make the right choice for their individual circumstances.

Speaking at the 'Focus E15', an East London foyer run by East Potential that provides support, training and accommodation to young people in housing need, Minister Flint said: "I've seen at first hand the real difference that can be made by giving young people access to both housing and employment advice and we want this opportunity to be available to everyone. These new trailblazers will do just that. They will be a stepping stone to independence, giving people the advice they need to find training and a job as well as a home."

Each of the trailblazers will get up to £350,000 to develop their housing advice services, making links to employment advice and other services in accordance with their locally identified needs. The funding will enable local authorities to create advice services tailored to the needs of their local area and local clients, away from the one size fits all approach.

(CD/JM)