Oldham celebrity and Happy Valley star Siobhan Finneran has become a patron for a homelessness charity that has supported more than 800 vulnerable teenage girls.

Siobhan, who plays Catherine Cawood’s (Sarah Lancashire’s) sister Clare Cartwright in the hit BBC series has become a patron of Contact, which offers accommodation and support to vulnerable young women.

The actress who has starred in multiple TV shows, including Benidorm and Downton Abbey, visited the Contact Hostel in Whalley Range, South Manchester last month.

During her visit Siobhan said: "Contact Hostel is a warm safe home with a devoted inspirational team who give the young women who live there hope, structure, support, guidance and the love and care that has been sadly missing from their lives.

"These young women have experienced difficulties in their lives that most of us cannot even begin to comprehend but the hope is that whilst living at Contact they can thrive, grow in confidence and self-esteem and achieve what was previously thought unachievable given their circumstances.

"I feel very honoured to be their patron and look forward to working with the young women and staff at this amazing place.”

The Oldham Times: Siobhan Finneran at Contact Hostel Siobhan Finneran at Contact Hostel (Image: Contact)

Since it first opened in 1970 Contact Hostel has provided safe accommodation to more than 800 young women aged 16 to 19 years old.

Billie Coleman-Jones, fundraising partner at Contact, had the idea to approach Siobhan after seeing her in the BBC series Alma’s Not Normal which has care leaver, Alma, as its central character.

Billie said: “I was blown away by Siobhan’s performance of Alma’s mum Lin. The storyline hit even harder as I had heard the stories about our service users some of whom are care leavers or were raised in households where addiction and poor mental health were prevalent.”

Contact relies on donations for services including its moving on fund for residents leaving their care and its Good Memories project which pays for the hostel team to take residents on trips around the region.

For more information on Contact Hostel visit www.contacthostel.co.uk/

To donate to Contact go to www.totalgiving.co.uk/charity/contact-1178557