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"Very very cold and surreal" was Teresa Kearney's thoughts on 4am at last nights young peoples sit out in Hill Street.
Young people from the Neighbourhood Renewal Areas mainly based in the Meadow and Armagh Road Community Centre along with young people from Barcroft, Carnagat and Derrybeg joined the Southern Health and Social Care Trust's Homeless Worker and others from around the city in an overnight sit out on Hill Street last night.
Teresa from Newry Young People's Partnership who were working alongside the Magnet Centre in Newry on the project said "The young people wanted to hold an event for charity and after teasing it out, they wanted to do something highlighting homelessness and by their sit out try and raise awareness of the services available, as they didn't know about services available to them if they found themselves homeless or their mates were homeless and we wanted to show that there is a service out there from the Trust helping you to get what support you need, whether that's going back into your family home or get you individual support, your own housing etc
Instead of collecting money they asked people to donate tinned/dried/non perishable food items, which will then be distributed to local charities working with the homeless in Newry.
Commenting on the local support Teresa added "It's been overwhelming the amount of food and the amount of stories the people in the Newry Area have gave to the young people. I think they've learnt an awful lot from this. Local business donated a serious amount of food from nine yesterday morning right through."
Food was donated from Bo Jangles, Courtneys, Friar Tucks, Grounded, Dolce Vita, Cobbles, Sugar Supper Club and many other individuals and organisations helped in different ways.
For any young person affected by Homelessness they can contact the Trust’s Gateway Service by telephoning 0800 7837745 or, after 5pm or at weekends, the Regional Emergency Social Work Service on 028 95049999.
