A GROUP of Bradford students are preparing to sleep under the stars to help the homeless.

The social work students from Bradford College will give up their home comforts for a night of kipping in the open.

They will brave the cold and bed down at the Shay Stadium in Halifax on Friday November 11 as part of a charity fundraiser being organised by the charity Calderdale Smartmove, which helps homeless and vulnerably housed people by securing sustainable homes and developing services to address their needs.

The charity is close to the heart of the budding social workers.

Second year student Marco Radley said: “A few of us did it last year and it was absolutely freezing, we were cold to the bone, but it is a great cause.

“As tough as it was to do last year, we all felt it was very worthwhile and wanted to do it again this year.

“We have set ourselves the target of raising £1,000 this year.”

Brian Mitchell, Head of Social Care and Community Practice at the college, said: "Hopefully none of the students will ever experience what homelessness is like but this will give them a sense of it for one night.

“As social workers, once qualified if someone comes to the office where they are working they will have more empathy and understanding knowing what just one night was like.”

To sponsor the students visit localgiving.org/fundraising/socialwordstudentsupportingsmartmove