A HOMELESS man is asking Somerset businesses to take part in a sponsored sleep-out.

Action for Children South West’s Byte Night event raised £1.1million for the charity in 2014, thanks to more than 1,300 people giving up their beds and sleeping rough.

The most recent figures for the South-West show at least 706 young people registered homeless or potentially homeless.

Among them is David, aged 22, who became homeless in December of 2012.

“I ended up on the streets because I couldn’t live at home any more,” said David.

“My mum’s an alcoholic and drug user and our relationship broke down many years ago. But, thankfully, Action for Children provided temporary accommodation for me and I’m now looking forward to settling into my own place and going back to work.”

After sleeping rough and ‘sofa surfing’ for more than two years, David was referred and offered a place in Action for Children’s emergency accommodation for homeless people aged 16 to 25.

Now, he is encouraging local businesses to take part in Byte Night, to help ensure that all young people in the region have a safe and loving place to call home.

Brigitte Gater, director of children’s services at Action for Children South West, said: “Byte Night raises funds for Action for Children services like Dorset Nightstop, the accommodation that put a roof over David’s head and gave him a safe and loving home when he had nowhere else to go.

“Some of the biggest companies in the South-West take part in Byte Night, making it a unique networking opportunity as well as a chance to support some of the most vulnerable young people in our society.

“One night really does make a lifetime’s difference.”

For more information visit www.bytenight.org.uk or e-mail bytenight@actionforchildren.org.uk