Fundraising teenagers have ensured the long-term survival of a Mansfield charity for the homeless.

The Hall Homeless Support Project, which provides food and shelter to rough sleepers, has received a £2,500 cash boost from young National Citizen Service (NCS) participants.

NCS is a government-backed activity programme for 15-17 year-olds, and is run locally by West Nottinghamshire College.

Trustees of the charity feared for its immediate future – saying it had only enough funds to keep going for up to 18 months. Now it can continue for at least another four years.

The chairman of trustees, Tony Lee, said: “We were getting to the point where we could last another year, maybe 18 months, with our current cash reserves. This money is a lifeline. I can’t thank the young people enough.”

The money was part of a record £11,000 raised by more than 380 participants of this summer’s NCS programme on behalf of several charities, including Jigsaw Support Scheme, John Eastwood Hospice Trust, MIND, the Salvation Army and Nottinghamshire Deaf Children’s Society.

Of those, around 75 young people from five separate NCS groups chose to raise money for The Hall following talks by Mr Lee on the work of the charity. Fundraising activities included a sponsored triathlon, raffle, tombola, collection buckets and online donations, as well as collecting food and clothing.

Seventeen-year-old Angus Townsley, from Mansfield Woodhouse, said: “As soon as we listened to Tony, we decided to back the charity.

“We are sympathetic to homeless people. Some of our group had previously been homeless or knew people that were.

“It feels good to do something positive and know the money is making a real difference.”

The project, which has been running since 1996, provides drop-in sessions each Monday, from 9.30am-11.30am, and Tuesday, from 6.30pm-8.30pm, at St Peter’s Centre, on Churchside, where service users receive a cooked breakfast or evening meal, hot drinks, showering facilities, food parcels and clothing.

Sessions regularly cater for up to 35 homeless people, with a recent one bringing more than 50 through its doors.

Two years ago the project employed five members of staff. Now, following cuts to external grant funding, it is run by a team of 12 volunteers, who rely entirely on donations.

The charity has been supported by the college for several years through money-spinning initiatives such as its annual 554 Challenge, which sees staff and students donate food, toiletries and clothing, while money from recycled printer cartridges is also handed over.

Other supporters include St Peter and St Paul’s Church, the Rotary Club of Mansfield and Mansfield Inner Wheel. The Nottingham Road branch of Sainsbury’s donates bread and fruit.

In addition to raising money, some of the NCS participants have volunteered at the charity’s Monday or Tuesday drop-in sessions.

Angus and fellow NCS fundraisers Kelsie Berryman and Katie Murfitt regularly prepare and cook meals for service-users, joined by friends Katie Armstrong and Kate Power — all of them students at West Nottinghamshire College, who lend their support when not studying. Some of them have returned after originally helping out at the charity last Christmas.

Kelsie, 16, from Mansfield, said: “I like the friendly atmosphere and the thought of helping other people. For me, it may only be for a couple of hours a week, but for the clients it’s their actual lives.”

Mr Lee said: “It’s a total relief knowing we can keep going because the homelessness problem is getting worse, not better.”

Nigel Oldham, NCS programme manager at the college, which has delivered the scheme since 2013, said: “This is living proof of how much the scheme changes young people’s lives and helps the local community.”

For further information about The Hall Homeless Support Project or to support the charity, contact Tina Barnes on 01623 428775 or email [email protected]