The event marked the official launch of the Peer Learning project on behalf of Wales' leading housing and homelessness charity, Shelter Cymru, who are working tirelessly to prevent homelessness and offer advice and support to those in housing need.

Peer learning worker, Simon Cooke, of Bersham, said more than 20 per cent of 16-25-year-olds in Wales will experience some sort of homelessness, with 128 to 165 people sleeping rough on the streets of Wales in March 2008. There are also the 'hidden homeless' as well, he said.

According to Shelter Cymru statistics, in the last year (from October 1, 2007, to September 30, 2008) in Wrexham they have seen 416 new cases, and of these, 100 were young people aged between 16 and 25 years old, so 24 per cent of their caseload in Wrexham is young people.

Mr Cooke said: "We introduced our pioneering Education Service in 2001 to strengthen our homelessness prevention work. An important strand of the Education Service is our new Peer Learning Project in Wrexham, Denbighshire and Flintshire.

"Young volunteers are trained to be able to speak about their experiences of homelessness. Our volunteers intend to deliver their prevention message to schools, colleges and youth clubs, focusing their advice on what to do if anyone finds themselves in a similar situation."

Martyn Vaughan, 17, spoke movingly and for the first time in public about his difficulties before finally finding a homeless hostel in Holywell.

He told of finding out his father was really a stepfather, being bullied in school, contemplating suicide, his time in a pupil referral unit, his flat in Rhyl being robbed twice, going to Scotland for some training, being on the streets for six months, and getting into trouble with the police.

He said: "Then I heard of Llys Emlyn Williams, a homeless hostel in Holywell, and I went and applied to get in. Two months later I got in and started building my life again, and it's been nearly a year now.

"Though it's not the nicest of places it's warm and doesn't cost too much to live there. I feel I'm beginning to start building my life up now, and I'm taking training courses to better myself and look for a job."

The presentation included details of the Housemate resource, a fully bilingual pack for use in schools, colleges and youth clubs. The pack looks at the issue of homelessness and how young people can prepare themselves for a successful leaving home experience.

Rhian Jones, Shelter Cymru co-ordinator for Wales, said in improving the understanding of housing issues, it was important to understand young people's information needs.

She added: "We have to see how other areas are delivering the information and then evaluate the approaches. We should also ask young people what they think, think creatively ourselves, and encourage others to play a role."

The event was held during Youth Work Week at Yale College, Wrexham, and included the official launch of the Peer Learning Project.

The event was an informative morning of activities. Those attending heard about work being done with schools and colleges through the Housemate resource, and how youth workers can be helped to learn more about housing and homelessness through the Right Track Pack.

It also explained how people can network with other Education Service stakeholders and book Peer Learning presentations for their organisation.