AN ORGANISATION which provides support for homeless young people in the county has released a video amid fears of cuts to its funding.

The Hereford Times reported last week that Herefordshire Council is consulting with SHYPP, the Supported Housing for Young People Project about possible cuts of 66 per cent.

The organisation says that if the cuts go ahead, it will signal the end of all support to young people struggling in their own tenancies, the end of support to young, vulnerable parents and the end of any crisis intervention work taking place to help young people return home or find alternatives to being homeless.

It has now released a video featuring some of the young people who have received support from the service, explaining how important it was for them.

Hugo Sugg who relied on SHYPP services to get back on his feet after being left homeless and sleeping on the streets in Hereford said: "I owe my life to SHYPP because there were times were I considered jumping off a bridge because I didn't feel like a person - I was living on the street, I didn't have a home or food, I didn't have money and now it is all at risk. I got lucky, who will be there for the next person?"

The organisation is asking people to show their support by signing their petition at change.org, which they will present to the key councillor responsible for housing, and to use social media to express their support using the hashtag #SupportSHYPP.

It can be signed here https://www.change.org/p/cllr-patricia-morgan-support-shypp-to-stop-council-from-cutting-66-of-homelessness-services-to-young-people/c

Herefordshire Council said it would ‘engage and consult’ on the future shape of the service with both affected young people and SHYPP ahead of developing any firm proposals.