A CAMPAIGNER who found himself rough sleeping in the foyer of a Hereford bank as a teenager wants to change attitudes towards homeless people during the summer months.

Hugo Sugg, 26, launched his Somewhere in Summer campaign in a bid to show that homelessness and rough sleeping is an issue which affects people 365 days a year.

Mr Sugg, who was made homeless when living in Hereford aged 18 following a relationship breakdown, said the summer months bring different challenges to rough sleepers who are often exposed to eight to 10 hours of sunlight a day and higher-than-winter temperatures.

He said: "This can be a massive health risk to homeless people as it can cause heat exhaustion, sun stroke and dehydration.

“I hope to ensure homeless people get noticed more, and appreciated, and for people not to invalidate their experience and not say things like 'go and sleep at your friend's house or 'you're not really homeless' or 'it's not as bad as you say it is'.

"And also for the public to be equipped with the skills that if they want to help - and not everyone does or can - but if they want to, it's about how they can help in the best possible way.

“Instead of just throwing change, or going out and getting what the person thinks the rough sleeper needs – I want to help the public to ask the right questions when they see a rough sleeper."

Questions, he suggests, as simple as 'are you ok?', 'have you seen a doctor recently?' or 'when did you last have a drink of water?' can help give the homeless the interaction they offer crave, and also help them seek medical assistance if they want it.

According to research carried out by Homeless Link (Unhealthy State of Homelessness, 2014), rough sleepers are the least likely to access their GP.

"By the public asking these questions, and potentially buying a bottle of water for a rough sleeper, can help prevent thousands of pounds from being spent by the already-stretched NHS trying to re-hydrate them and giving them a bed space," said Mr Sugg, who completed his studies at the University of Worcester this summer.

"Somewhere in Summer isn't trying to 'solve' the issue of homelessness, but instead making it a little bearable for the individual who may have recently lost their partner, employment, relationship, have a severe mental health issue, or could have a substance misuse issue."

Visit hugosugg.wordpress.com for more on Mr Sugg's campaigning.