A youth centre is hoping to educate its young people about homelessness during a 'sleep out' this week.

Staff from the Benjamin Foundation, which helps young adults in times of crisis including homelessness, organised the event to raise money for its Meet Up cafe in Thetford.

Around 15 children aged eight to 12 are signed up to take part in the sleep out on Friday, which will see them curl up in their sleeping bags in Meet Up's main hall with no central heating and no Wifi.

Staff from the charity including hostel worker Donna Warnock and social action development worker Jenna Ashworth will put on a number of activities for the children around the theme of homelessness.

All money raised from the event – which includes £15 from each child taking part – will go towards much-needed repairs to the building.

Ms Warnock, who works at Walmington Court in Thetford, said: 'I see people at the hostel who have been living rough, and they are all aged 16 to 25, which makes it harder.'

Ms Ashworth is also co-ordinated a linked project to put together 'kindness' bags, filled with clothing, toiletries and food. The children who take part in the sleep out will then go to Norwich with Benjamin Foundation staff to hand out the bags to the city's homeless people.

Donations are being accepted for the kindness bags – contact Ms Ashworth on 01603 662939 for more information.