A HOMELESS charity is urging more restaurants to sign up to a scheme to help the homeless during Christmas.

Under the Streetsmart scheme restaurants add an optional £1 to customers’ bills if they want to make a donation for homeless charities in their area.

Friends First, of Clarendon Villas, won £2,000 via the scheme at Christmas 2013.

This year the charity will receive all donations from restaurants it signs up.

It helps homeless people to develop employable skills, stay safe and get through crises.

Visit friendsfirst.org.uk or contact Serena Crisp on 01273 840 880.

Project finds housing help VULNERABLE young women are being offered extra help.

Impact Initiatives has started offering shared housing for up to five women aged 18 to 30 who are leaving supported accommodation but aren’t yet ready for full independence. Under the Stopover three scheme, a support worker will visit once a week. The scheme adds to the Brighton charity’s two long-running projects, Stopover one and two.