A PROJECT for homeless single young people in Pendle shifted its activities to the Lake District for a weekend while its Safespace hostel was spring-cleaned.

Sixteen residents, staff, volunteers and former residents took part in a range of activities at Derwent Water Youth Hostel and enjoyed the chance to use a camcorder and two mountain bikes, funded through the Community Chest Fund in Pendle.

The activities play an important part in helping to build self-confidence for the young people and developing their independence, so that they can eventually leave the hostel and lead a normal life.

Former residents on the trip acted as role models for the current residents, showing that it is possible to break free from homelessness and lead an independent life.

Safespace provides young homeless people aged 16 and 17 with emergency hostel accommodation and is available to people in Brierfield, the Waterside and Vivary Bridge areas of Colne and Bradley and Whitefield wards in Nelson.

The resettlement support project is funded through Pendle Partnership and the resettlement support team is attached to the centre. Resettlement workers help residents to become independent and find a new home.

Project manager Joy Holdsworth said: "Since we started this project we have realised that the number of homeless young people needing our help is much greater than we thought.

"Activity weekends like this can give our residents a huge confidence boost, particularly if they mix with people who have overcome similar problems.

"The more young people we can help to become independent, the more able we are to help newly homeless young people in Pendle."