Volunteers spent a night 'sleeping rough' to raise awareness — and funds — for homeless people. Daniel Holland joined the group to find out more about the issues facing those helped by Bolton Young Persons Housing Scheme .

AS 12 brave souls settled in for a night sleeping rough on Friday, thoughts inevitably turned to how harrowing it must be to live through this every day.

The daring dozen, who volunteered to raise money and awareness for Bolton Young Persons Housing Scheme (BYPHS), were cold and uncomfortable, but in safe surroundings and good company.

There was food, hot drinks, music, and a quiz to keep people entertained, plus the support of friends and family members who had come along.

Compared to this mild discomfort, the realities facing Bolton’s homeless youngsters every day are unimaginable.

This fundraiser, which BYPHS chief executive officer Maura Jackson has been planning for years, was designed to give a snapshot of life on the streets — or in this case, behind the Bolton at Home offices in Waters Meeting Road — and spread the word about the charity’s vital work in providing supported accommodation for homeless young people.

Mrs Jackson said: “It’s something I have been desperate to do ever since I went to a conference a couple of years ago, but I haven’t got around to organising it until this year.

“Everyone taking part has gone through their own contacts and let them know what we are doing. It’s a ripple effect and the more people who know, the better.

“A couple of years ago, I moved onto our scheme myself for five days to try and gain a better understanding of what the people we help are going through. Tonight is part of that, too.

“But the fact is that we get to go home at the end of it. We have food and all sorts to keep us entertained. This is only a small insight into the discomfort.

“I can’t imagine how it must be to live like this every day by yourself.”

The volunteers were in good spirits and thankful that the weather had been kind to them — even if they were “cheating a bit”, as Lesley Morgan said.

Whatever discomfort they would experience would be worth it to help a cause that some of them had very personal experiences with.

Emma Young, aged 32, has stayed in touch with the charity ever since they first helped her at the age of 16.

She is well aware of the life-changing effect their support can have.

She said: “My social worker contacted BYPHS because I had nowhere to go. I had been living with my grandad but I couldn’t really cope anymore.

“I wasn’t a very confident person when I first came on the scheme, but they really helped me with that. Having someone coming around to check on me and knowing their support network was there made me feel like someone really cared about me for the first time.

“I saw on Facebook that they were running this sleep out and thought it would be a good laugh. It’s a great opportunity to raise some money and I know that it will go a little way towards changing people’s lives.”

The money raised — already more than £3,500 — will go towards giving the 16 to 25-year-olds on the scheme the help they need to “feel normal” again.

Mrs Jackson added: “That money will be really valuable in helping us provide people on the scheme with the little extra things they might need, such as a uniform for work.

“We make sure we can address any kind of crisis that arises for someone, for example we might need to pay for a food parcel one week if they don’t have money to feed themselves properly.

“We find that most people on our scheme only have a budget of £4 a week for food and clothing.

“It will also help pay for some of the trips out that we try to organise. Even a simple trip to the cinema will cost us around £400 now, to buy everyone a ticket and something to eat.

"But running events like that makes a big difference, it’s what makes them feel normal.”

For more information about BYPHS phone 01204 520183 or email mail@byphs.org.uk.