The staff are taking part in Rock Trust’s Sleep Out 2017, which involves sleeping out from 7pm – 7am on Friday November 3 in Edinburgh.

While the event cannot replicate the sense of danger, hopelessness and hunger which many young people across the UK face, the team hopes that by swapping their beds for the streets for one night they can raise the profile of this issue and some much needed funds for Almond’s pilot Housing First project in West Lothian.

The Association is working with the Rock Trust on a pilot two year project to provide tenancies and support to care leavers with indicators of complex need. All of these Housing First tenancies are fully furnished and the young people are provided with intensive “whatever it takes” support. This is the first project of its kind in the UK and will be independently evaluated by the University of York.

An Almond spokesperson said: “By providing vulnerable young people with the right start and the security of their own tenancy, we can help to set them on the right path to navigate adulthood. In addition we sincerely hope that this model, if proven by the pilot, is rolled out across the UK as the way to treat care leavers across the UK.”

To support the sleep-out or find out more information, click here.