Sixty councils will benefit from increased funding to boost their housing and employment advice options for local residents, announced Communities Minister Iain Wright.

The twenty projects cover sixty council areas and each scheme will receive up to £260,000 to develop their housing advice services, making links to employment advice, and giving local residents more personalised information about the range of housing options available to them.

The Trailblazer schemes will offer a greater range of advice to people looking for housing, whether it is helping people to stay in their own homes, social and private rented or shared ownership.The personalised advice service will take into account the person's individual circumstances to ensure they make the best choice for their specific circumstances.

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Mr Wright said: "We all know the importance of having all the facts to hand when making any decision, let alone one of the big life choices such as choosing where to live and in what sort of home. These Trailblazer schemes make sure people are fully informed of their options and able to make the decision that is right for them in their individual circumstances, not someone else's."

The first round gave twelve councils across the country the opportunity to develop their services. As well as the twenty schemes announced in this round a further ten projects will receive 'kick start' funding to begin developing their own approach to linking housing and employment advice, using the mentoring skills and expertise of the original twelve councils to help them in setting up their schemes.

(CD/JM)