A PIONEERING idea to help children brought up by foster parents or in care homes to start living by themselves has been unveiled by Lancashire County Council.

The Get Independent! CD Rom for young people is the first of its kind in the country.

It has been designed by young people who have left care and found in the past that there has been little support or advice for them when trying to set up home alone.

The CD Rom, which will be given to to all youngsters in the county leaving care, includes a variety of games which help youngsters:

Decide if they have enough skills and knowledge to live by themselves

Consider the pros and cons of different homes

Work out how much it will cost them to furnish their homes and which items can be classed as essential and luxury

Draw up budgets and learn money-saving tips

Decide whether they want to stay in education, begin a training programme or go into employment and what benefits and support are available for each.

Libraries in Lancashire will also stock the CD Rom.

Councillors hope the scheme will bring an end to young people leaving care and ending up homeless because cannot juggle all the pressures of living by themselves effectively.

County Councillor Marcus Johnston, a Burnley councillor and the county's cabinet member for communication, information and lifelong learning, said: "Lancashire is the first local authority to produce a CD Rom like this which aims to help young people start out independently.

"We hope it will help reduce youth homelessness, promote social inclusion and allow young people to make informed choices before they move away from home.

"What makes it really special is that it has been developed by young people, for young people -- and that means it really speaks their language."