Homeless Action Barnet raises £8,500 from Big Sleep Out

Homeless Action in Barnet (HAB) has raised £8,500 through its "Big Sleep Out" event, which took place between June and September. The initiative challenged residents to spend a night sleeping outdoors to generate funds and awareness for individuals experiencing homelessness in the borough. Around 50 people participated in the event, which aimed to attract 100 participants.

Tom Nevitt, a representative for Homeless Action in Barnet, described the response as "genuinely moving", noting the willingness of people to forgo comfort for a night to support the cause. He stated that while sleeping outdoors for one night cannot fully replicate the reality of homelessness, it can encourage reflection on the lack of a safe place to sleep.

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Participant Experiences

Courtney Rose and her mother, Stephanie Cramer, participated in the event on 26 September. They slept in the courtyard of the Alyth synagogue in Temple Fortune alongside ten other individuals, raising more than £500, which met their personal target. Rose reported that one rough sleeper stayed with them and eventually shared his experiences, revealing himself to be a talented artist.

Rose and Cramer, who also engage in HAB's annual "Walk in their shoes" campaign, expressed their satisfaction with undertaking the sleep-out as a mother and daughter. They hoped for greater community involvement in future events.

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Youth Engagement and Support

Nevitt highlighted the significant involvement of young people, with the majority of participants being under 18, including a Scout group and three student teams. HAB plans to develop more youth-focused challenges to offer alternative ways for young people to contribute to fundraising and awareness efforts.

Homeless Action in Barnet provides support to approximately 250 vulnerable individuals each week. Nevitt explained that the funds raised are essential for providing immediate necessities like food, showers, and clothing, as well as for offering longer-term assistance to help people transition away from homelessness. He also emphasised the importance of community participation in sending a message of care and support to those HAB assists.