MOST people don’t pay them a second thought, others often feel helpless as how they can help, but this week, in the spirit of the festive season a group of secondary school children took it upon themselves to wish Bolton’s homeless a Merry Christmas.

The Bolton News:

Young people with Youth Challenge’s Bolton Impact Trust came up with the idea after wanting to make a real difference in the community they live in.

There were tears and smiles as the pupils presented those sleeping rough in Bolton town centre, with bags of essentials, gift wrapped presents along with a Christmas card ­— with each homeless person opening the card first.

Leanne Connors, learning mentor, said: “Students were asked to brainstorm a community project, with this they chose to fund raise in the local community to provide 12 homeless people gifts at Christmas time, 12days of Christmas stipulated the number of gifts we would aim to provide.

“The objective of delivering this project is to break down the perceptions of homeless people within their community, to promote our students becoming kind, empathetic members within our society; by engaging with the most disadvantaged.We are so proud of them.”

The Bolton News:

Damien Bradly, also a learning mentor, added: “This exercise will also support our learners in improving their social, emotional, communication and listening skills. It was the young people who came up with this idea and wanted to do this.Tesco have been very supportive.”

Natalie Rigby was the first to be presented with the bag. The gesture brought tears to her eyes.

“I’m so overwhelmed. I’m so emotional,” she said, “It means a lot that someone has done something, it is brilliant.”

And while the pupils were presented her with the bag containing essentials, food as well has hat and gloves, she was told that the council was close to securing her a roof over her head.

Liam Smiley, who is in Year Nine, said: “It is upsetting to see people homeless and it was good to be able to help.”

Caden Fletcher, who is in the same year group, added: “We have put toothbrushes in, a sandwich as well as hats, which we gift wrapped.”

The Bolton News:

Nicholas Fishers and Andrew Crossley wee also presented with the bags.

Nicholas said: “Something like this makes you feel so warm, it shows somebody cares.What the children have done is priceless it shows compassion.People often have a perception, which is often wrong, of those who are homeless and these young people have shown humanity.”