At the Company's Business and Partners' lunch on 7 September, a cheque for more than £31,000 was presented to Centrepoint as a contribution to the overall capital cost of e-room deployment at Salters City Foyer Service.

The e-room project seeks to provide access to Information Technology for the Young People in Centrepoint's care. The key purpose of providing IT to Young People is to help support their formal and/or vocational education, and to provide an environment that supports their development equal to those of their peers in their education/work environments. In addition to this, it will give them access to resources that will support the development of their personal interests and hobbies. Centrepoint recognises that access to Internet led ICT is vital to the development of learning, education, employment and ultimately, the achievement of independent living.

Centrepoint Salters’ City Foyer offers 29 shared and 15 self-contained flats within hostel buildings. It provides on site education, training and employment advice services for Young People committed to developing their skills and employability. The Young people are aged 16-25 and will stay on average 18 to 24 months whilst moving towards independent living. 75% of the 44 residents at Salters’ are actively engaged in some kind of further education or training. A wide range of courses are being studied amongst Salters Young People including, but not limited to; Psychology, Media, Computer Aided Design, Music, IT, Art, Fashion Design and Air Chemical Training. The biggest benefit that room based IT brings is accessibility at times when young people are most able to study, mainly evenings and weekends.