A trade union is pressing for youth workers to be given subsidies to buy homes in line with teachers and nurses, writes Chloe Stothart.

The Community and Youth Workers Union has written to deputy prime minister John Prescott demanding that youth workers be given access to key worker housing.

Under the schemes, certain groups of public sector worker get government loans to put towards buying a home or can buy part of a home from a housing association and pay rent on the remainder.

Doug Nicholls, general secretary of the union, said a lack of cheap housing meant youth workers were not moving around the country to gain valuable experience.

The lack of affordable housing is exacerbating recruitment and retention problems in the sector. Nicholls said around 4,000 more youth workers are needed to meet government targets.

The average house price is England at £191,081 according to ODPM figures for April – nearly 11 times higher than the average youth worker’s salary of £18,000.

The government said it was reconsidering the categories of public sector employees eligible for keyworker housing as part of a shake-up of subsidised home ownership.

The consultation on the changes closed on Friday and initial findings will be announced to parliament in July.