Teenagers living in slum conditions as part of a project highlighting global poverty met a man sleeping rough in Epping Forest.

The group of ten young people had set up camp using pallets and tarpaulin near St. Mary’s Church Hall in Coppice Row, Theydon Bois, with the challenge of finding their own water and eating two meals a day to highlight conditions endured by about a seventh of the world’s population.

But the reality of the struggle some people face really hit home when Ivan, who described himself as a ‘forest dweller’, spotted their fire and asked to join them for breakfast.

He told them he had been living in the forest since being evicted from his home in April last year.

Ivan sleeps in a tent, which he said he regularly moves around to protect wildlife.

He told the group he was a former soldier, who uses his survival training to get by, and lives off of donations and an army pension.

Camp member Julie Turrell, 15, said: “He told the group lots of stories about his experiences.

“He did not want to be called homeless he wanted to be called a forest dweller.

“We are so lucky we could get supplies like extra jumpers from home. People like Ivor do not get the chance to do that.”

The week-long ‘Slum Challenge’ raises money for Soul Action, which supports people living in extreme poverty.

Despite his predicament, Ivan donated £5 to the cause.

For more on this story, see next week's Guardian - out Thursday