A GROUP of teenagers from East Lancashire slept rough for a night in a bid to raise awareness of homelessness in Burnley.

The 16 and 17 year olds also visited a homeless shelter and gathered donations for foodbanks.

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The teens were raising money as part a social action project for their National Citizen Service with Burnley FC which aims to help youngsters build skills and take on new challenges.

The youngsters had to design a community project and pitch it to judges in a Dragon’s Den-style setting to win £250 worth of investment.

Student Matt Orford, 17, said: “I think it is quite easy for people of our age to stop seeing homeless people as people and you start to develop your own stigmas.

“To meet them was a remarkable experience. They have similar views and opinions, but are just not as fortunate.”

He said the group slept outdoors at Turf Moor one evening.

“The most interesting part of it was the extreme boredom. We are used to relying on our phones and television.

“We had to develop connections with the people around us. I will never forget that.

“We did get lucky with the weather, but as the night went on it did get rather cold.”

Komal Younas, 17, Nelson and Colne College student, said the team of 10 volunteered at the Elizabeth Street Project Hostel in Burnley.

He said: “There were 25 to 30 people there. We have seen homeless people in the town, but never realised what their situations are - that they have to come to a hostel to get food.

“Now when we see a homeless person we ask if they want anything to eat and offer to buy them food.”

Amelia Bullock, 16, said they set up a foodbank and collected donations from shops and supermarkets for Spacious Places Engage which is based in Burnley.

“They have a big food bank and help hundreds of people. I think most of us did not realise how much this project helps people and how it affects them in a positive way,” she said.

Nelson and Colne College pupil Samiha Hussain, 17, said: “If you get rid of all the negatives around homelessness you can become a better society and help young people into better situations.”

Rebecca Robertson, from Burnley FC in the Community, said: “It’s amazing to see the progress made by every participant when they take part in NCS. Before they joined us, most of these young people would not have had the confidence to present an idea in front of people they didn’t know but every single one of them did really well and we are very proud.”