The National House Project Charity was established in 2018 to build the expertise and evidence base to support local authorities to develop their own Local House Project. The House Project takes a ground-breaking approach through its commitment to young peoples ownership to enable young people leaving care to achieve successful independence, leave care together and provide alternative housing support options.

At the heart of the National House Project is the Care Leavers National Movement comprised of care leavers across the country who come together to highlight best practice, share success stories, test innovative ideas and challenge systems and processes. At the last meeting we spoke about how young people living alone manage on a budget of £70 a week. Very few of them have luxuries such as broadband packages or electronic devices to access the internet.

During this unprecedented time of social distancing and self-isolation it can be difficult and overwhelming for anyone, particularly care leavers who are often living alone and don't have family around to talk to.

It is important that we do what we can to support our care leavers who are a very vulnerable group in our society. There are over 135 young people in Local House Projects between the ages of 16-21 learning the skills that come with living independently and living in their own property. They have nowhere to turn other than keeping in touch with their support network via social messaging apps such as FaceTime, WhatsApp and Facebook however, a large proportion of these young people haven't got access to the internet and are therefore cut off from the outside world.

With this is mind, funds raised during this difficult time will go towards electronic devices and/or broadband packages for these young people, enabling them to stay in touch with the outside world and remain safe from harm during this extremely challenging and isolating time.