A HOMELESSNESS prevention worker will be hopping on a youth bus to spread the word about projects to help teenagers struggling at home.

Beth Rushton has been working with Rawtenstall-based M3 Project since May after the charity obtained funding for her role from Children In Need.

She has built up a team of volunteer peer supporters to run The Listening Project, both from young people who have been helped by M3 Project and from local sixth form centres. It is hoped some will accompany her on the bus.

M3 works across East Lancashire offering supported lodgings for 16 to 25-year-olds and also runs a teenage family project.

Staff from Safespace, which provides advice and accommodation in Rawtenstall, will also be on the bus.

Beth, 23, said: “Initially we will be on the Space Bus when it is in Rossendale on Saturday, November 18 and 25 from 11am to 1pm in Whitworth on the Wallbank Estate and then from 1pm to 3pm on Pennine Road in Bacup.

“My role is to try to prevent 16 and 17-year-olds from becoming homeless by offering family mediation and one-to-one support sessions.

“We are trying to solve conflicts before they escalate and end up with a young person being kicked out of the family home.

“We are doing this with the help of our peer supporters who are a group of volunteers who have been trained and will be running the family mediation sessions with me.”

Beth completed her degree in criminology and sociology and went on to work in children’s homes.

She said: “If we have a family struggling with a teenager, they can contact myself and we will do an assessment based on their need.

“We will see if mediation will work and if not we are able to signpost them to lodging providers.”

Beth is planning to be on the youth bus throughout Rossendale, Hyndburn, Burnley and Pendle over the next few months.

She added: “It is our way of getting directly into the heart of the communities to make sure people know the services we offer.”

Anyone who wants to know more can contact M3 Project on 01706 216600 or Safespace on 01706 212894.