AN urgent call has gone out from a Birkenhead organisation to help the vulnerable men and women living on the streets of Wirral.

After hearing of the hardships being suffered by the growing number of people sleeping outside – particularly in Birkenhead – town centre recruitment operation Recruit Right has joined forces with YMCA Wirral to make the lives of the street homeless more bearable.

Through the new YMCA Drop Stop initiative, members of the public can now help to bring comfort to those facing the misery of homelessness by donating essential toiletries and warm clothing.

All donated items will be delivered immediately to the YMCA in Whetstone Lane, Birkenhead, where its night shelter last year provided a total of 4,869 bed night places to 377 men and women.

The drop-off point for goods is Recruit Right's head office in Argyle Street, Birkenhead.

Recruit Right director Helen Cornah said: "Learning of the scale of the homeless problem in Wirral made us realise that something needed to be done to help people, many of whom through no fault of their own, have found themselves without a roof over their heads.

"There's currently no sign of a let-up in the cold weather and these items can make a world of difference."

Of particular need at the moment are hats, gloves, scarves and warm coats.

Toiletries can include shampoo, spray deodorant, disposable razors, items of feminine hygiene, toothpaste, toothbrushes, lip balm and hair brushes. Small bottles of water are also on the essential list.

Helen added: "Many of these items are not expensive and sometimes occur as two-for-one offers in the supermarket.

"Everything we receive here will be much appreciated by the YMCA, no matter how small the donation."

YMCA Drop Stop follows the recent Sleep Ferry Well campaign to provide new, heavy-duty camp beds for the night shelter.

More than £3,000 was raised by Wirral businesses over the Christmas period in an initiative co-ordinated by Woodside Ferry Village and Birkenhead business Samelco Web Technology.

Fifteen beds have already arrived at the shelter and more are now being ordered to replace the ones that have split and broken due to their heavy use.

Describing the scale of the local homeless crisis, Nigel Hughes, YMCA Wirral's chief executive, said: "The problem in Wirral is already deep and set to get worse due to social issues such as the lack of affordable housing and unemployment.

"Men and women can become homeless when they leave the armed forces or prison, are escaping abusive relationships or simply just can’t afford the rent.

"Mental health issues, relationship break-down, anti-social behaviour, alcohol and drug misuse can also see people ending up living on the streets.

"It gets worse at Christmas when people relying on the hospitality of friends for a bed for the night – the ‘sofa surfers’ - get turned out to make room for relatives staying over during the festive period.

"However, in reality it's an all-year-round problem.

"That’s why our YMCA Drop Stop partnership with Recruit Right is so important to bring some comfort and dignity to the men and women who are street homeless.

"Warm clothing and toiletries will go a long way to help as we work to try and pick up the pieces of broken lives."

Items for the YMCA Drop Stop initiative can be dropped off at the head office of Recruit Right at 107-111 Argyle Street, Birkenhead CH41 6AD, telephone 0151-737 5564.