A fundraiser will be held later this month for a charity which is helping ‘sofa-surfing’ homeless youngsters get back on their feet.

Ynot Aspire , based at Hyndburn Community and Voluntary Resource Centre on Cannon Street, Accrington, works with young people living temporarily with friends.

The charity, which is mainly funded through the Big Lottery Fund, is holding an event at Accrington Stanley FC to raise money for its Your Space project.

More than 31 per cent of homeless people are under 25 years old and the most common reason for youth homelessness is a breakdown in relationships with family.

Volunteer mentors from Ynot Aspire work one-to-one with these youngsters as part of the charity’s Your Space project, trying to help them repair their relationships and return home.

However, funding the project is costly, as each new volunteer costs an average of £540 to recruit and train.

Sharon Burch, chief officer at Ynot Aspire, said the investment is worth it.

She explained: “Each volunteer gives back over £3,000 of their own time to support our work with young people, so it really is excellent value for money.

“Last year, 24 young people were supported through this project, all of whom had a positive outcome at the end of it.”

The work of Ynot Aspire falls into two main areas - firstly, Ynot Say Something, in which it promotes the voice of young people, with a young person’s board that reports directly to the board of trustees on the concerns of youngsters in the borough.

Then there is Ynot Do Something, which encourages people to volunteer and get involved with young people in their neighbourhoods.

Clive Grunshaw, Lancashire’s police and crime commissioner, added: “I am committed to supporting prevention and early action initiatives to help young people make positive choices and steer them away from becoming involved in anti-social behaviour.

“This project is helping to achieve that and I congratulate everybody involved on its success.”

There will be a meal, a raffle, games, a DJ and dancing at the Friday, February 26 fundraiser, and an auction with prizes including signed Stanley and Blackburn Rovers shirts. Tickets £8 available from paula@ynotaspire.org.uk or d.burch@m65recruitment.co.uk.