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National Youth Homelessness Scheme
Third sector prevention work with children and families
Research on mapping service provision for children and young people in the voluntary sector 
Children aged 8-13 years experience important life stages such as the crucial transition from primary to secondary school. This transitional age requires recognition and appropriate service provision to effectively support and respond to the diverse set of needs a child may experience at this age.
Service provision in relation to children, young people and homelessness largely focuses on supporting young people aged 16 and over who are experiencing housing problems. Indeed, the term 'youth homelessness' is widely recognised among local authorities and other service providers and is reflected in the name of this website.
Early intervention and preventative work aimed at younger children is fundamental in order to protect children and reduce problems developing further down the line, such as homelessness and social exclusion. This preventative work may take the form of early provision of information on housing and homelessness for children before they reach secondary school.
This module explores four themes:
- Education and information provision for children to help prevent homelessness;
- Support and services for children and families in temporary accommodation;
- Services aimed at supporting children and families with complex needs who are at risk of homelessness; and
- Support and preventative work for young runaways
This module also includes case studies, examples of good practice and key resources developed from a selection of voluntary sector organisations working with children and families to prevent homelessness.
This module has been produced to help children's services, housing teams in local authorities and housing providers identify current good practice and highlight initiatives that could be supported and developed by local authorities throughout the country.
* Craig, G. et al (July 2008) Every Organisation Matters: Mapping the children and young people's voluntary and community sector, Children England and NCVYS)
