A CAMPAIGN to raise awareness of the plight of homeless young people moves another step forward this month with a seminar at Redditch Town Hall.

The Holding Hands with the Homeless seminar will be held from 10am-3.30pm on Monday, February 17, and consists of a varied programme dominated by youngsters from Redditch Youth Forum.

Homeless young people will share their experiences and there will be presentations, videos, guest speakers, a theatre company performance and stalls offering information about agencies and organisations such as Shelter, Nightstop, Step Out Drop In, the YMCA, The Big Issue and Bromsgrove Homeless Forum.

The seminar is the latest event since a group of youngsters and staff from the forum and Worcestershire Youth Service (Youthworcs), based at Redditch Youth House, Ipsley Street, slept rough outside the Halcyon Centre in August as part of the Holding Hands with the Homeless campaign.

But youth forum member Verity McGivern said the seminar aimed to achieve much more than just raising awareness.

The seminar is aimed at young people aged 13-21 and people interested in homeless issues.

It is free to attend and lunch will be provided.

The group is also appealing to businesses and individuals to donate items such as gift vouchers, non-perishable food, linen, toiletries, CD players and hi-fi systems, to be distributed through re-housing agencies.

For more details on the seminar or the youth forum or to make a donation, call youth worker Veronica Allen on 61717.