A group of community-minded youngsters are to take part in a sponsored sleepout to raise money for a trust that helps homeless people.

The 13 youngsters, who between them attend Manor Academy, Mansfield Woodhouse; Ashfield School, Kirkby; Shirebrook Academy; and Tibshelf Community School are all taking part in the National Citizen Service initiative.

NCS is a nationally-recognised programme that helps 16 and 17-year-olds to take part in social action projects and build skills for work and life.

As part of the NCS Social Action Weeks, the youngsters are raising money for the Canaan Trust for the homeless.

They will be spending Tuesday night sleeping in cardboard boxes in the yard of Mansfield Garage Doors, in Great Central Road, Mansfield.

Owen Phelan (16), whose family run Mansfield Garage Doors, said: “We are trying to raise money, and awareness of the issues that homeless people face. If people can sponsor us, we really would be grateful.”

Notts County in the Community are delivering the course on behalf of NCS. Owen’s group chose the Canaan Trust as charity to help because it supports the homeless in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

To sponsor the teenagers, visit http://bit.ly/OwenPhelan