THE mayor of Blackburn with Darwen is set to join charity supporters and brave the cold for this year’s Nightsafe sleep out.

To celebrate its 29th anniversary, the charity, which supports homeless and vulnerable young people across the borough – will be holding the sleep out on Friday, December 6.

As well as raising vital funds, the charity aims to highlight the harsh reality that young homeless people face every day. The sleep out will take place within the grounds of St Silas Parish Church in Preston New Road – home to a new facility created as part of the Children in Need DIY SOS Blackburn Big Build – and will run from 9pm until 6am.

Tonight viewers will be able to see the first glimpse of the new facility as the much-anticipated DIY SOS episode airs on BBC One at 8pm.

The team from DIY SOS, including presenter Nick Knowles ­— along with hundreds of volunteers ­— helped transform the old St Silas Church Hall into an accommodation block for the Blackburn-based charity in September.

Hundreds of volunteers and tradespeople from up and down the country lent their skills to help transform the old church hall into six self-contained rooms over the two weeks of the Big Build.

Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Cllr Jim Shorrock, said: “Nightsafe is a fantastic local charity that has helped so many young people.

“The fact that so many local people are willing to sleep outside on a cold December night shows the borough’s compassion for the less fortunate members of our local community.”

The mayor will be joined by staff from the council’s Children’s Services department to help raise money.

More than 100 people took part when the event last took place in 2017 which raised over £20,000 – a figure Nightsafe is hoping to smash this time around.

Anyone interested in taking part and collecting sponsorship for Nightsafe, should complete a form and return to info@night-safe.org.uk or drop off at Nightsafe@The Boulevard Centre, 45 Railway Road, Blackburn, BB1 1EZ.

Any youth groups wishing to join the sleep-out must have designated leaders with necessary permissions and consent forms.

A Nightsafe spokesman said: “We ask for a staffing ratio of 1 adult per 4 under 18 year olds. We advise a minimum age of 10."