A GWENT project aimed at preventing youth homelessness has celebrated its first birthday by scooping a national award.

The Newport-based MyPad won a Tenant Participation Advisory Service Cymru award at a ceremony in Cardiff earlier this month.

The scheme is aimed at young people in social housing, who are more likely than any other age group to lose their homes within 20 months of getting them.

The four-day course works to prevent this by offering practical training from housing professionals to 16 to 24 year-olds applying to Newport’s common housing register.

Nathan Fletcher, 18, of St Julians, and Ben Scott, 21, of Stow Hill, worked with MyPad project officers Kelly Major and Kate Thomas for two months to produce a short film on youth debt, and a new home handbook for young people.

Project assistant Aimee-Louise Hunt, 18, of Maesglas, helped the pair prepare a presentation for MyPad’s official launch last month, where they gave a talk to more than 60 people.

MyPad is delivered by Newport City Council and Supporting People, plus the city’s biggest social landlords – Newport City Homes, Charter, Melin and Linc- Cymru. For more information visit mypadnewport.co.uk