A YOUNG man took centre stage in Worcester as he spoke about how homelessness drove him to the brink of suicide.

Hugo Sugg of Shrub Hill, Worcester, fought the nerves

to make an impassioned plea to the people of the city not to forget the homeless this Christmas.

Mr Sugg (Twitter @HugoSugg) gave a powerful speech outside Worcester Guildhall yesterday (Saturday), barely referring to his handwritten notes as he spoke from the heart about his own ordeal and how he was supported to turn his life around, finding hope after despair.

The 25-year-old University of Worcester student, who now has a flat, told the people of the city that any of them could fall on hard times and end up on the streets or 'sofa surfing' just like he did.

"Hugo's Earthquake", as he calls his campaign, is an attempt to raise awareness of youth homelessness and quite literally shake up the preconceived notions some may have about homeless people.

The campaigner, now studying for his final year Youth and Community Work BA (Hons), was just 18 when he became homeless in Hereford following the breakdown of a relationship.

The crowd was small at first but began to build as Mr Sugg grew more and more impassioned about the plight of homeless people and the need for the public to back organisations like Supported Housing for Young People Project (SHYPP) in Hereford and the YMCA, St Paul's Hostel and Maggs Day Centre, all in Worcester.

He said: "Seven years ago I was homeless. Seven years ago I slept on the streets, on tiles like the ones you see before me. I was sleeping on the ground you're walking on."

Mr Sugg says it was the organisation SHYPP which got him back on his feet and saved his life.

He was supported during his speech by Alicia Lawrence, head of SHYPP, also raising awareness by speaking out in the street.

Seven years ago Mr Sugg was 'sofa surfing', calling in favours from friends and friends of friends so he would have a roof over his head just for a night.

He added: "What can you do about youth homelessness? You can recognise it's there. We can make sure we raise awareness about it.

"The organisation that helped save my life was SHYPP. When I was homeless I didn't have any money. I didn't have friends. I didn't have family. I didn't have a roof over my head for three months, three horrible months.

"When you're homeless you feel invisible. You don't feel like a member of society. You feel like you're not worth it."

Mr Sugg blames Conservative cuts for exacerbating homelessness which he said had risen by 37 per cent since 2010.

Yet he praised Worcester's Conservative MP Robin Walker who he said had provided strong support and brought the issue of youth homelessness to the House of Commons as he had done himself with his lobbying work.

Mr Sugg said simple ways to help homeless people might include speaking to them, asking them if they would like a cup of tea or coffee or food and even taking them to the doctor if they were sick.

Mr Sugg was also keen to dispel the myth of the homeless as men with bushy beards and dogs.

He said: "Anyone in this street can become homeless. Everyone in this street today is two pay packets away from homelessness.

"When I used to walk the streets of Hereford seven years ago I looked down in the river and thought I could commit suicide. There's an easy way out of coming off the streets.

"It was a case of committing suicide really easily or going through the pain I went through to be able to come out the other side, campaign, get housed and go to university.

"I could have jumped into that river seven years ago and I would not be standing here today, complaining about youth homelessness."

Mr Sugg also spoke about the poorer than average physical and mental health of homeless people.

SHYPP, the organisation which helped Mr Sugg, highlights the risks and dangers of homelessness and works to stop people becoming homeless in the first place.

Examples of their work includes the Nightstop, a scheme which provides emergency accommodation for 16 to 25 year olds through the homes of trained volunteer host families, support lodgings and foyers.