PEOPLE are being urged to take and post "crazy selfies" to help raise money for a York charity which tackles homelessness among young people.

The National Citizen Service (NCS), a programme giving young individuals opportunities to make a difference in their area, has launched a new community project for November.

Money raised will go to SASH, (Safe and Sound Homes), based in Walmgate, which finds volunteer hosts in York, North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire willing to put up vulnerable homeless people aged 16 to 24 for a few nights, so they have time to sort out their problems.

It has faced soaring demand for its services and last year offered 1,260 nights of accommodation through its Nightstop project to young people with nowhere else to go.

The charity has told in the past how it has changed the lives of young people, such as a 21-year-old

called Joe who became suddenly homeless following the break-up of a relationship, and had no friends or family in the area to turn to.

He spent 11 nights at the home of a supportive Nightstop host until he could get his life back on track.

Katie MacKenzie, of NCS, said the charity was a "'wonderful" organisation which gave young people opportunities to be a 'regular teenager' and helped them get their life back on track.

"This organisation isn't very well known despite all the good it does, and it also needs donations to allow it to keep helping these young people," she said.

"All we are asking is for people to take a crazy selfie, whether this be a funny face, crazy hat or anything out of the ordinary, tag it with #selfie4SASH , nominate a couple of their friends and donate to 70070 by texting SASH16£(the amount they want to donate).

She said that for further information, people should go to https://www.facebook.com/Selfie4SASH