Sleep Out for the Homeless

On Friday night I’ll be sleeping rough in the grounds of Winchester Cathedral to raise funds and awareness of homelessness in Hampshire.

A number of Miss England contestants have already raised awareness of homelessness, and it has made me think so differently about what these people go through and how hard and helpless it is. We never know the circumstances of how they got to be in this situation, which I think is often the most stigmatised in this country. However, we should never be quick to judge and I would like to thank contestants like Charlotte White, Jade McQueen and Stephanie Hill, as well as Miss England Carina Tyrrell, and of course Dominique Harrison-Bentzen who raised £45,000 for the homeless.

I’ll be fundraising to help two of Winchester’s homelessness charities – Trinity Winchester and Winchester Nightshelter Churches.

Trinity Winchester provides practical and emotional support to people who are homeless or vulnerably housed. It operates a drop-in service and outreach project as well as a women’s service to help those in abusive relationships.

• £15 Provides one service user with meals for a month.
• £25 Runs one session of Trinity Winchester’s outreach project– an important way to access and engage with the most entrenched rough sleepers in the city.
• £100 Per day is what it costs to provide service users with 1:1 project workers.
• £120 Per day is what it costs to just open the doors.
• £280 Per year provides access for one woman into the Women’s Service. This service provides counselling and advice sessions for those fleeing or in abusive relationships.

The night will include live music, games and competitions which is open to the public, with sleepers bedding down around 10pm. There is also a Cardboard Shelter competition so I better get some twinkling lights!

I’ll be joined by Miss Hampshire David Freeman Photography Award Winner and Miss Sussex finalist Channon Kail and we’ll be supporting each other throughout what is expected to be a chilly night.

I am raising £100, and if you would like, you can donate to the cause!

If sleeping outside is not your cup of tea, get involved with the fun by creating your own Big Sleep In within the comfort of your own home with friends and family, make dens and have a sleepover. Oh and send in your pictures for my blog after the event!

Thanks! :)