MOVE over Changing Rooms - a team of dedicated workers from east Cleveland is matching the makeover talents of TV's popular DIY experts as part of a pioneering project.

East Cleveland Youth Housing buys or leases derelict and empty properties, and then works with young people aged between 16 and 25 in east Cleveland to bring the property back to use. The Building Skills project has just moved into a new home in the former school building at Skinningrove and ensures that young people gain practical skills and qualifications in renovation work and then provides them with supported accommodation.

Coordinator Steve Stevenson said: "We like to think we give these young people life and social skills, too, investing a lot in personal development."

The multi-funded initiative draws backing from a wide variety of sources, including Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's housing department, the Countryside Agency, the National Lottery and a series of small trusts.

The single regeneration budget is supporting a similar scheme in Skelton. Redcar and Cleveland councillor Dave McLuckie, who is also chairman of the Skelton SRB Priority Group, said: "I think this is an excellent project.

"It not only gives young people training in building skills, but also instils in them a feeling of belonging to the community.

"Ultimately, it provides them with supported housing, the like of which they would not be have been able to access in a place like Skelton."

Mr Stevenson said: "The first house we tackled took six months of hard work and has provided a home for two young people.

"The satisfaction the lads got from doing all sorts of work - from plastering to wallpapering, gardening to rewiring- could not be bought.

"They were given a real sense of purpose and responded magnificently.

"It is a super example of how well the scheme works."

The scheme has also been given extra funding from the Halifax with a £1,000 donation to buy hand tools for the trainees.

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