NORTH YORKSHIRE residents are to be offered more than £200 a week to house teenagers leaving the care system.

The supported lodgings scheme is being launched across the county by North Yorkshire County Council's leaving care team.

It aims to help young people aged 16 and 17 who have left the care system, but need support before living independently.

Young people living in care are entitled to leave when they are 16, and some opt to live alone.

But unlike teenagers who choose to leave their family home at 16, it is very difficult for young people leaving care to return to the system.

The county council's leaving care team says some young people regret their decision to leave the system, and struggle with living alone.

The supported lodgings scheme aims to provide a halfway house, helping care leavers learn how to live independently when they are older.

Joanne Chaplin, leaving care housing support worker for Selby and district, explained: "Sixteen-year-olds can change their minds at the drop of a hat, but leaving care is like a one-way street.

"We decided to do this scheme because it's giving young people another option."

The team is asking anyone with space and time for a 16 or 17-year-old to get in touch.

After an assessment procedure, care providers will be given payments of more than £200 a week, plus training and support.

At 18, care leavers can claim housing benefit, and can continue to receive support from the county council until they are 21.

Although the county council's area does not include York, the scheme is also looking for volunteers from the city.

Ms Chaplin said: "The care leaver has a choice of where they go - they are entitled to live anywhere. We want to attract as many people as possible."

A spokesman for City of York Council's leaving care team explained that the city already had similar provision for 16 and 17-year-olds leaving care.

He said there were three schemes in the city which provide supported lodgings for care leavers. They provided a range of accommodation from bedsits to individual rooms, supported by in-house voluntary sector staff.

Anyone interested in being a supported lodgings provider should phone 01757 213 399 for an informal discussion and information pack.

Updated: 10:31 Friday, March 12, 2004