STUDENTS stepped into the shoes of the homeless in a bid to raise awareness of the daily struggles of those in need on the streets of East Lancashire.

A group of 23 youngsters, who were accompanied by seven teachers, spent the night at St Christopher’s CE High School in Accrington.

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The challenge saw them try and experience the life of people living on the streets while cooking up 100 litres of soup from vegetables they had grown in the school’s polytunnel which is to be donated to Nightsafe and Maundy Relief in the town.

As for feeding themselves, everyone was rationed portions of soup to get an idea of having limited food.

Amy Lees, 15, from Oswaldtwistle, said that she was keeping in mind that homeless people had to sleep in the cold and go hungry every night.

She said: “We wanted to experience what’s it’s like and how they survive but in a way, we were just doing this for one night, they have to go it every night.

“When I pass a homeless person I worry about how they have enough money to survive and how they cope.

“We did have to get a bit friendly during the night to keep warm.”

Ahead of the sleep-out, money was collected through the day for Nightsafe and Maundy Relief and more than £500 has already been raised.

The students were not allowed to use their phones and so had to find other ways to entertain themselves.

Most of them could be found writing letters to teachers thanking them for what they do, which were going to be hidden inside library books as a surprise, or doing revision.

Ariele Methven, 15, said: “I think when I pass a homeless person next time I’m definitely going to go into a shop and buy them something.

“This has changed my attitude.”

Science teacher Jake Foy said he was impressed with the selflessness of the students.

He said: “The atmosphere around school because of these has been even nicer than it usually is.”

“We wanted to support the students and see what it was like for ourselves really.

“I’ve been really impressed with them making all the soup and the effort they they have made.

“We want to change people’s attitudes towards the homeless and I think by stepping in their shoes it is going to make a difference.”