Reading energy meters, using a washing machine and learning about interest rates are just some of the things young people need help with when coming out of care.

And now they are getting it in a training flat near Chapelfield in Norwich thanks to social enterprise Your Own Place. Former teacher Rebecca White, who also used to work for Norfolk County Council's children's services department, set up the project when she saw a gap in preparing young people for adult life.

'I was seeing young people leaving care at 18 without skills', she said.

She said social workers went above and beyond but when teenagers reached 16, and left the care of the council, they needed more support.

Around 80pc of the people Your Own Place helps with its training courses have been in care and are referred to them by the county council.

Over three days, they teach them how to manage in the real world, from paying bills to finding flats.

'These young people are very complex so the focus (when in care) is on keeping them safe and out of harm and not on washing machine or using money but we make a rod for our own back if don't teach them that,' said Ms White.