A HOMELESSNESS project which helps vulnerable young people turn their lives around is urging people to take part in the UK’s largest sponsored sleepout.

Hundreds of people are expected to take to the streets in Byte Night on Friday, October 7 to raise vital funds for the Action for Children service, Dorset Nightstop.

The service’s coordinator Simon Keys said without support from the annual sleepout, the project would not have been able to support half the young people it has helped across Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole.

He said: “Dorset Nightstop has been supporting vulnerable homeless young people across Dorset since 2009, offering a safe secure bed for the night and a listening ear in the homes of fully trained volunteer hosts when young people are at their lowest ebb.

“None of this would be possible without the vital money from events such as Byte Night. Just one night sleeping out can make a world of difference to those young people who need it most in our communities.”

An estimated 85,000 young people experience homelessness in the UK every year, leaving them vulnerable to violence, mental health problems and addiction.

Josh is just one of the hundreds of young people the Dorset project has helped.

He was referred to Dorset Nightstop from hospital after he was admitted following an attempted overdose.

Josh had left his home to move in with his girlfriend. But when the relationship had not worked out, he found himself homeless and jobless with no local family to turn to and nowhere to go after hospital.

Dorset Nightstop, which is entirely self-funded and is dependent on donations, offered him a safe secure bed and a listening ear in the home of one of their fully trained volunteer hosts.

Simon said: “Josh was at his lowest ebb.

“The difference in Josh after only one night was massive. He arrived, nervous and uncertain about the future, but after being made welcome and fed by his hosts, as well as being able to grab a good night’s sleep, he was ready to start looking to the future.”

He was supported with making applications for accommodation, signposted to support services and offered help and advice on his future. By the end of the week, Josh managed to get himself a room in local supported lodgings.

This year’s Byte Night South West will take place in Bristol.

For more information about the event, go to bytenight.org.uk or email bytenight@actionforchildren.org.uk