A POWERFUL new film about a homeless teenage girl has been launched in a bid to prevent teens from sleeping rough.

The clip, produced by Simon Community Scotland, which works to combat the causes and effects of homelessness, presented their film to St Mungo’s Academy yesterday (Wednesday) as part of their Nightstop project.

Pupils were shown a teenage girl frightened and alone on the streets at night. But the hard-hitting film also explains ‘It Doesn’t Need to Be Like This’ and offers the young woman a safe place to stay with a Nightstop volunteer host.

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It will be shown to fifth and sixth year pupils at every secondary school and students at colleges and universities across Glasgow from January 8 .

Simon Community Chief Executive Lorraine McGrath, said: “Since we launched in 2018, we have provided 100 safe bed nights of accommodation to young people in crisis.

“We were delighted with the response to the first stage of our campaign, and that we’ve had so many people signing up to become volunteers.

“The cycle of homelessness creates unprecedented risk and danger, for young people those dangers are multiplied across the broad themes of: physical and mental health, drug and alcohol addiction, introduction to criminal activity and/or prostitution.

“Offering vulnerable young people a safe, calm place to stay can make all the difference to help them achieve positive outcomes in the future.”

The project, which provides young people aged 16-25 with a safe space to spend the night when they find themselves in a crisis situation, has been launched in partnership with Glasgow City Council.

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Its main aim is to avoid young people ending up on the streets or in unsuitable or dangerous temporary accommodation.

Hosts offer a private bedroom, a hot meal, and shower. A range of toiletries and other essentials are also provided by Simon Community Scotland.

Councillor Chris Cunningham, education, skills & early years convener, said: “Young people can feel very vulnerable and alone in certain circumstances and need to know and be reassured that there’s help, support and information available from a range of services to help them through a crisis.”