Charting perils of living rough (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Charting perils of living rough

11:45am Thursday 24th January 2008

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YOUNG people who have gone through the stress of homelessness have launched a DVD charting their experiences.

A group from the charity, Wyre Forest Nightstop, showed the film to members of agencies including Connexions, Centrepoint and Wyre Forest Community Housing in a bid to open people's eyes to the difficulties of living rough.

All the presenting members were teenagers who had used Nightstop to get back on their feet and find accommodation after having to leave home.

Two of their number, who are all part of the charity's crisis prevention team - CPT - went to the Houses of Parliament to speak to MPs about the homelessness issue last year.

Chairman of the CPT, Carrie-Ann Andrews, who left home at 16, said: "I never knew about Nightstop. One day, I just went up to my teacher crying and I found out about it through my school.

"I'd always had problems at home, used Nightstop and now have my own place. I'm one of the success stories."

The Wyre Forest-based organisation is affiliated with Nightstop UK, which invited the crisis team to produce and market a DVD showing the realities of homelessness.

Speaking after the presentation at Kidderminster Library, Gemma Colley, the district charity's co-ordinator, said: "It went really well and people said how impressed they were with the DVD."

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