FOR people who are homeless, the thought of living out on the street as winter approaches is a frightening prospect.

Young people are particularly vulnerable to homelessness due to high unemployment rates, low wages and not knowing who to turn to for support.

With this in mind, in 1999, consultations took place between ELCS, Youth & Community, Probation and Local Authority Housing Dept about what could be done to help the young homeless in Pendle.

Following this Pendle Action in the Community submitted a successful Lottery bid to provide emergency supported accommodation for single people aged 16 to 25 in the borough. In 2000 SafeSpace was officially opened, providing eight-bedroomed accommodation in Carr Road Nelson.

Eleven years later, the charity had a major boost with the opening of its purpose-built supported accommodation in Leeds Road, Nelson which has room for 19 young people.

The facility has 15 self-contained flats comprising a lounge, bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen and storage area.

It also has four emergency bedrooms which are en-suite bedrooms with shared kitchen and lounge.

It also provides communal lounges, training kitchens, communal laundry, IT suite, an activity room, counselling room, meeting rooms and offices.

As well as this, the organisation provides services to meet the holistic needs of the young people staying with them to ensure they develop skills to live independently.

Claire Bennett, charity manager, said: “SafeSpace is a local project for local people. Tackling homelessness as early as possible is the key to sustainable and successful futures for our young people in Pendle.

“SafeSpace has been providing support and accommodation in Pendle for more than 14 years, helping more than 2,500 young people by preventing homelessness, providing safe and high quality accommodation as well as addressing the wider issues of homelessness such as family, education, employment, training, and social and emotional needs. “With recent economic pressure on families never has such a service been so important.” The charity says it is always in need of donations of items such as small gifts, food and toiletries, particularly in the run-up to Christmas.

Donations can be made by visiting mydonate.bt.com/charities/safespace.