STAFF at a payroll company are preparing for a tough 24-hour challenge on the streets of Crewe to raise cash for a homeless charity.

The quartet from Crewe-based Optimum Pay Group, headed up by UK Sales Director Tamara Beckett, are to embark on a 24-hour stay awake challenge on Saturday, August 21 to raise awareness and funds for Crisis.

Pushed outside their comfort zones they will not only need to guard against taking shut-eye, but they will have to make do without creature comforts, including running water, beds and beauty items.

Crisis not only deals with people experiencing homeless directly, but campaigns for changes to help prevent future homelessness and solve it altogether.

This is a critical time with the impact Covid-19 has had on the homeless population resulting in over 160,000 people either sleeping rough or in temporary housing. The charity forecasts that rough sleeping is due to increase by 76 percent over the next decade.

Tamara, from Optimum Pay Group, said: "In the modern world of convenience it is all too easy to take all you have for granted.

"That's why I whole heartedly believe in treating everyone as I would like to be treated. I'm taking on this challenge, to get a minor glimpse into how experiencing homelessness can affect a person while raising funds to help reduce and prevent homelessness in the future".

The Optimum Pay Group team start their challenge at 8am in the morning and follow it through to 8am on Sunday with the aim of raising £3,000 for the charity.

To help end homelessness and support the team in their fundraising efforts you can donate or share at their Just Giving page.