Conservative leader David Cameron has pledged to provide volunteer charities that help the homeless with more funding, should he become prime minister.

Having tested an innovative new “sleep pod” during a visit to the Brighton & Hove homelessness charity Lorica St Patrick’s, the Tory head promised to deliver more financial aid to charitable organisations that worked to keep people off the streets.

The new pods experienced by Mr Cameron are designed to give homeless shelter residents the best possible temporary accommodation and are due to be installed in a Sussex shelter run by the charity by St Patrick’s Day, March 17th, this year.

“Taking their inspiration from the Japanese pod hotels, our pods provide residents with their own space which is secure and private,” explained Stephen Sharpe, chief executive of Lorica St Patrick’s.

“They combine welcoming, modern design with safety to create individual spaces and overcome issues associated with mixed-sex dormitory-style operations,” he added.

Founded in 1985, Lorica St Patrick’s provides approximately 25,000 sleeping spaces for the homeless each year, running 19 housing units and a 29-bed hostel.

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