This November I am taking part in Sleep Out for Centrepoint. I will be spending a cold and uncomfortable night sleeping in the Victoria Baths but it's all for an amazing cause.

Those of you who know me well, know I’m not comfortable asking for money or fundraising on a personal level. Instead I dedicated 10 years of my professional life to helping people by working in the not for-profit sector, When I left I then volunteered as a listener for the Samaritans for almost 4 years.

Since moving to Manchester this year and seeing the abundance of homeless people, particularly young people, I feel compelled to do something to try and help in my own little way.

Sleep Out raises money to help change the story for thousands of homeless 16-25 year olds in the UK. 103,000 young people experience homelessness every year and the effects can be devastating.

Centrepoint supports young people to recover their health and find a job and home of their own. Their approach works and 86% of those they work with leave Centrepoint positively.

Please sponsor me as much as you can because although I'm spending just one night outside of my comfort zone, homeless young people will have faced much worse.