CAN you spare a couple of pounds to buy a new pair of socks or winter items for those living on the streets?

Yorkshire Building Society's staff in Hay-on-Wye are asking for donations to help keep homeless people warm in the coming months.

The society is launching its month-long Socktober appeal throughout October as part of its charity partnership with End Youth Homelessness (EYH) and to raise awareness of World Homelessness Day on October 10.

Donations of new pairs of socks, plus other items such as woolly hats, gloves, scarves and toiletries can be made at the Yorkshire’s agency in Hay-on-Wye at Williams Beales & Co, on Broad Street.

An estimated 83,000 young people in the UK are homeless and, according to latest figures, 157 young people in Powys received some homelessness support from their local authority in 2015/16.

Teresa Ryall, director of the Yorkshire Building Society’s Hay-on-Wye agency, said: “It’s shocking that so many people have nowhere safe to call their home. As the weather turns colder we want to do what we can to help keep them warm and that’s why we’re launching our Socktober appeal.

“A lot of us may take having a clean pair of warm socks to wear for granted but for a homeless person without a proper roof over their heads it’s the last thing on their mind. As well as socks you can also donate hats, scarves, gloves and small sets of toiletries to our appeal – and every single item will go to a homeless person.

“We’re really proud of our partnership with End Youth Homelessness and providing help for young people in need. We can’t thank people in Hay-on-Wye enough for their continued support.”

Yorkshire Building Society’s charity partnership with End Youth Homelessness supports its corporate responsibility strategy, Society Matters, and its ambition to make a lasting positive impact on society.

To find out more about the Society Matters strategy, please visit www.ybs.co.uk/societymatters.