YOUNG people in the county have been “slumming” it to help raise awareness of poverty in the world's poorest communities.

Supported by Hereford Baptist Church’s youth pastor and youth leaders, 17 young people spent last weekend building and living in a slum in a Hereford car park as part of 'Slum Survivor'.

This national initiative from charity Soul Action is a simulation experience designed to raise awareness of poverty and raise money for change in the world's poorest communities.

Jason Borlase, youth minister at Hereford Baptist Church, said: “Slum Survivor is a great opportunity for young people to see and experience some of the conditions that around 1 billion people in the world live with every day.

“In undertaking such a challenge, raising money and awareness, we live out the call of Jesus to take care of those who are the poorest, downtrodden, in need and those classed as the least in our world.”

The project involved building shelters or ‘slums’ to literally live in over the weekend and eating a limited diet.

Participants were sponsored to take part in the challenge, with money raised going to the work of Soul Action partner projects which work in poor communities in South Africa, Zimbabwe and elsewhere in the world.