Last March, I spent a night on the streets for Centrepoint's Sleep Out.

I thought I was prepared. I had two foam mats, a sleeping bag, thermal layers, and even hand warmers tucked into my jacket.

I wasn't prepared at all for what turned out to be a life-changing experience.

The cold seeps through everything. The noise never stops. Every time you finally drift off, something jolts you awake. And underneath it all is this nagging thought: at least I know this ends tomorrow.

For 118,000 young people in the UK, there is no tomorrow when it ends.

That's one young person in every 64.

One young person from every two school classes.

I learned that homelessness isn't just about not having a roof - it's about being trapped in a spiral you can't escape.

A growing number of people are sleeping rough, sofa-surfing at friends', sleeping on night buses, or even turning to social media to find a warm bed.

No fixed address means no bank account. No bank account means no job. No job means no home, and so it goes on....

Centrepoint doesn't just provide beds. They help break the cycle.

They work with schools to identify 11-16-year-olds at risk before they become homeless. They provide mental health support, legal advice, education and training. They help young people move into independent living

How Your Money Helps

• £12 provides toiletries and essentials when a young person first arrives at a Centrepoint service

• £35 covers a hot meal, warm bed and crucial support

• £50 funds mental health support for vulnerable young people

• £100 helps provide education, training and job opportunities

Every pound goes directly to Centrepoint. Every pound helps break that vicious circle.