A pioneering £40,000 project is being launched to help prevent homelessness among young people in Gwynedd, after a huge 575 per cent rise in cases over the past 20 years.

Charity GISDA has been commissioned by Gwynedd Council to reach young people in crisis, before they become homeless.

Cllr Dilwyn Morgan, Gwynedd Council Cabinet member for children and young people said: “When we talk about homelessness, we may often think about people living on the streets in big cities. But the fact is that a number of young people may have no permanent home and are couch-surfing and living on a very temporary basis with friends or relatives.

“We want to help our young people so that they are fully aware of the help and support available to them here in Gwynedd. By engaging with young people as early as possible, we want to show them that they’re not alone and it’s OK to ask for help.

“I’m delighted that we are working with GISDA on this pioneering project and look forward to seeing the work progress.”

The GISDA team, who have bases in Caernarfon and Blaenau Ffestiniog, have worked with more than 2,000 young people in the last five years, helping them with accommodation, financial issues, mental health support, and life skills.

The charity has seen a staggering rise in the number of young people being referred and self-referring for support in the last two decades, supporting 561 young people from April 2018 to April 2019, compared to 83 referrals in the year 2000, a 575 per cent increase.

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