A CHRISTMAS coffee morning was held by Wyre Forest Nightstop and Kidderminster and District Youth Trust to celebrate another year of partnership.

Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier attended the event at Youth House in Kidderminster to learn more about issues of youth homelessness in Wyre Forest.

The last year has seen an increase in the number of young homeless people using Nightstop, with over half being under 18. Nightstop Co-ordinator Judith Ford said: "Without the generosity of our volunteer hosts many of these young people would have been staying in unsuitable accommodation or even sleeping rough.

"Last year our hosts provided 120 nights of accommodation for homeless young people."

The cakes and pastries at the coffee morning were baked by Nightstop’s young volunteers as part of Nightstop’s Volunteer for Success Programme.

The programme is funded by the Midcounties Co-operative and the Worcestershire 100 Club and aims to give young people the opportunity to gain experience and boost their confidence by volunteering.

The programme, now in its second year, helps volunteers gain employment or return to education.

A raffle was also held at the coffee morning to raise funds to buy sweets and treats to make Christmas stockings for the Kidderminster Foodbank.

The volunteers will also be visiting London next year with Mr Garnier, who has invited them for lunch and to have a guided tour of the Houses of Parliament.

Anybody who is interested in volunteering for Wyre Forest Nightstop can email wfnightstop@btconnect.com or call 01562 743111.