It is the worst time of the year to have nowhere to go at night, but now a new service is being launched to help Skipton's homeless young people.

Safe and Sound Homes (SASH) is appealing for more 'volunteer hosts' from the local community to help, as it launches in Craven for the first time.

SASH provides overnight emergency accommodation known as 'Nightstop' for homeless young people in the homes of trained and vetted volunteers in York and North Yorkshire. 

Last year SASH helped keep safe 120 vulnerable young people, providing a total of 436 nights of accommodation.

Almost half the young people that SASH helps are just 16 or 17 years old, and the majority have been forced to leave home as a result of family breakdown.

Nina Pinder, Strategy & Housing Access Officer at Craven District Council, said: "People don't realise that homelessness is a problem in places like Skipton, but it is.

"It's a hidden problem - young people might be sofa-surfing or sleeping on relatives' floors for a long time before seeking help.

"I'm delighted this service is now available in this area, as it's the first step to enabling us to find long-lasting solutions to issues faced by these young people as an integral part of our services for young people."

Peter Robinson, Director of SASH, added: "It is a shocking statistic that on average homeless people can expect to die at the age of just 47.

"The Nightstop service is designed to stop young people entering the cycle of homelessness and unemployment that can lead to this devastating outcome.

"Homelessness is rising as a result of the current economic climate, and SASH needs to be in a position to meet this demand.

"We want to encourage people to come forward and help us make a lasting difference to homeless young people in Skipton this year."

Anyone in the Skipton area who is interested in finding out more should call (01904) 652043 or send an e-mail.