THERE’S a school of thought that if you really want to understand today’s victims you need to walk in their shoes.

Well, that’s what 12 hardy volunteers did last weekend when they slept rough for a night to highlight the lives of young homeless people. Their bed was the ground and they not only raised consciousness of the situation in which hundreds of local youngsters find themselves but also raised money for them.

Detractors – those who say much but do nowt – point out that, well, it’s only one night. And that’s true. But I think we’d all get a fair idea of the sheer cold and desperation young homeless people suffer if we tried just one night away from our cosy beds.

So, admiring this Bolton Young Persons Housing Scheme initiative, supporting it and recognising the situation for so many might just go some way to helping alleviate the problem.