'A homeless charity took me in from the cold'

Adam first arrived at Nightsafe as a teenager when he had nowhere to live at Christmas

A man who was helped by a charity when he became homeless as a teenager at Christmas has said without that support he would be "out on the streets or even worse".

Adam spent the festive season with Nightsafe in Blackburn in 2022 when family circumstances left him without a permanent place to call home.

With the help of BBC Children In Need funding, and other donations to support Nightsafe, Adam has since been referred to a housing project and learned to become more independent.

He said the "future looks a lot brighter" for him.

Nightsafe says it helped Adam become more independent

"There are things that could've happened to me, I wouldn't have wanted to happen. This place helped me a lot," he said.

Adam first arrived at Nightsafe a week before Christmas in 2022.

"I stayed for Christmas and New Year and that's the most critical time because it's so cold," he said.

"And the fact that people struggle being alone at Christmas."

The work done by the charity, isn't just confined to the shelter.

Staff and volunteers also take residents to a nearby country park for therapeutic outdoor activity sessions.

Jane Wadsworth from Nightsafe says getting out in nature helps people feel a bit better

Jane Wadsworth, a senior support worker at Nightsafe Blackburn, said she had looked after Adam when he first arrived at the centre.

"Adam has been with us for two years nearly, he stayed in the night shelter and I looked after him then," she said.

"He's in one of our housing projects, but he also comes down to the day centre to let us know how he is going on.

"We've talked a little bit about depression, whilst we've been out amongst nature and how much better we're all feeling for just for being there.

"Without the funding we can't do these things."

Adam said: "If it wasn't for this place I'd be out on the streets or even worse.

"Now I am much, much happier in where I am now, the future looks a lot brighter than it did before."