Stories

Wed, 30 Sep 2026

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 Facing the future without the 'bank of mum and dad'

Young people struggling to make ends meet respond to the government's Your First Home scheme.

* Chari, a 19-year-old care leaver from Hertfordshire, is using her savings to survive after the government cut off her universal credit.
* She has had to put her dreams of becoming a doctor on hold as she pursues a career in banking to pay the bills.
* Elliot, an 18-year-old from Hertfordshire, also wants to buy his own home but believes he will never earn enough to afford it.
* The government's Your First Home scheme offers a 20% government-backed loan to help first-time buyers with deposits, but critics warn that it could leave young people taking on more debt and increase house prices.