A WYRE Forest homeless charity recently laid on a Christmas coffee morning to celebrate the good work which has been done throughout the past year.

Wyre Forest Nightstop held the event at their Bromsgrove Street headquarters, in Kidderminster, alongside long-term partners Kidderminster and District Youth Trust.

On offer to the party visitors were cakes and pastries baked by Nightstop’s young volunteers as part of their Volunteer for Success Programme.

Many of the volunteers within the programme have previously been homeless and helped by Nightstop.

The programme, which received funding of just under £15,000 from the European Social Fund in July, helps to give young people the opportunity to gain experience and boost their confidence by volunteering.

Now in its third year of running, the programme helps volunteers gain employment or return to education.

As part of their work with the charity, the volunteers have also made stockings filled with sweets to present to the Kidderminster Foodbank for distribution to children over the festive period.

Judith Ford, Nightstop co-ordinator, said: “The morning was a great success. We had between 50 and 60 people come along – many of whom give us support all year round.

“Members of our partnership agencies, Wyre Forest District Councillors, MP Mark Garnier, as well as our friends from Kidderminster Foodbank and staff from St Basils all came to show their support.”

Throughout the last year, Nightstop has helped more than 100 homeless young people with emergency accommodation, food and clothing.

The charity has also provided mediation for 20 families helping them to re-build fractured relationships and stay together – preventing further youth homelessness.

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