A REFUGE that provides a safe and supportive environment to Sutherland Shire teenagers at risk of homelessness or cannot live at home has been given a makeover.

New Anchor house in Jannali was renovated on Friday by a group of 22 volunteers from the ING Foundation.

The ``backyard blitz'' was organised by United Way Sydney, a volunteer group that develops corporate involvement programs that benefit community organisations, charities and projects.

New retaining walls, gardens and furniture were included in the renovation.

``United Way believe that if the residents' environment is maintained to a certain quality, the young people feel looked after, secure and nurtured by their surroundings, enabling them to move towards fulfilling their own inherent potential,'' a spokeswoman for the group said.

New Anchor provides accommodation to people aged 15 to 18 who cannot live at home due to a variety of reasons such as family breakdown and mental health and drug problems. It was established in 1995 and is run by Presbyterian Social Services.

Its manager, Geoff Smith, said the makeover was one day out of the volunteers' lives but had made an instant and ``huge difference'' to the lives of the teenagers and staff.

Teenagers can stay at the home for up to two years, during which time they are enrolled in a residential-based program that teaches them life skills such as cooking, cleaning and budgeting.

The aim of the program is to give teens the skills they need to live independently.

To qualify for accommodation, teens must be attending school, TAFE or be working.