Gloucestershire County Council's new accommodation for young care leavers has been shortlisted for two national awards.

The £15.5m investment to provide specialist support and semi-independent accommodation at Trevone House in Gloucester will help vulnerable young care leavers approaching adulthood to learn the skills they need to live independently.

Welcoming its first young people at the start of this year, the site is now a finalist in the 'Innovation in Children's Services' award category at the MJ local government achievement awards, which are held annually to recognise the great work being done by local authorities.

MJ judges said: "This project impressively showed how to develop a programme based on feedback from young people with care experience, engaging a wide range of stakeholders and demonstrating excellent outcomes."

MJ Award winners will be announced at a gala luncheon celebration September 17, 2021 at London's Hilton Hotel on Park Lane.

Trevone House has also been shortlisted in the 'Children's Services' category at the LGC (Local Government Chronicle) Awards 2021, which celebrates excellence in local government.

Winners will be announced at the LGC Awards ceremony on November 4, 2021 at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane.

Councillor Stephen Davies, cabinet member for children's safeguarding and early years at Gloucestershire County Council said: "I am delighted that our pioneering project to transform Trevone House to provide accommodation for young care leavers is being recognised nationally.

"We have worked hard to make sure that Trevone House provides them with a fantastic home designed with input from young people with experience of care, and which offers all of the specialist support they need to move on to the next stage of their lives. It is wonderful to see the difference it is making."