Young people from St George’s Youth congregation in Deal have been experiencing a grim and colder side of life.

They left their luxuries at home, built a slum of cardboard and faced two days living rough.

Team vicar the Rev Shiela Porter said: “Our young people wanted to take part in the Slum Survivor project, which engages youth in learning about what it is like to be homeless and living in poverty.

“They also wanted to raise awareness of the plight of many people around the world and help raise money for Tear Fund, which is working in hunger-stricken areas”.

The 12 young people from St George’s Youth Revive group built a slum of cardboard and wood donated by members of the High Street congregation.

Youth worker Emma Bogue joined the project and the campers had a strict and basic two-meal diet.

The group was denied food between meals, make-up and mobiles were banned and nothing other than necessities were permitted.

Young people slept on cardboard under a tarpaulin and also raised nearly £400 for Tearfund by car washing and people giving donations.