Homeless charity celebrates biggest sleep-out solidarity event

A homeless charity has raised more than £20,000 as part of its biggest annual sleep-out event yet.

Swindon residents braved the elements this month at the Supermarine Sports Club to fundraise for Threshold Housing Link. The event, - which the charity says is the biggest solidarity event with the homeless to take place in Swindon - aims to raise awareness of homelessness in the town and fundraise for Threshold's support services.

On the night the charity received £20,600 in pledges and saw 178 people partake – including ‘Friends of Threshold’ from as far as the Netherlands and Florida – where a record number of children attended.

Speaking of the event Michael Keenan, Threshold’s Chief Development Officer, said: “It was such an absolute pleasure hosting Threshold's Big Swindon SleepOut, supported by our fantastic team of volunteers and event sponsors. We are pleased that so many people had the courage to brave the weather and the compassion to raise funds for the vital work that Threshold undertake.

"In every sense this year’s event was the most successful Sleep Out the charity has ever hosted in our 47 years of working for Swindon’s homeless community. In terms of participants attending on the night, together with 22 Fire Cadets and supporters who gathered at the Swindon Fire Station, with ‘friends of threshold’ who joined satellite sleeper events’ in Alkmaar, the Netherlands, Zurich, Switzerland and Naples, Florida, we therefore saw 178 people participate in Swindon’s longest running annual homeless solidarity event. Every year participation and all forms of support grows, which is so encouraging.

"On the night £20,600 was pledged, but we typically see the amount donated rise as many of the people who expressed an interest in attending, but then couldn’t do so generally send in donations and as participants who did attend collect their pledged sponsorship money from family and friends they often come out way in excess of their anticipated sponsorship amount. Also, there were groups of attendees from various Swindon faith communities, Christians, Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists and when they tell others in their faith community about their participation at the Sleep Out, then past experience has shown that we see far more financial support materialise. This year saw a record number of children attend the event and it was wonderful to see the passion and insight these young people brought to the fundraising they undertook for our local homeless population.

“It is impossible to create at an event like this a real sense of the suffering experienced by individuals who cannot wake up after a night on the streets and return to a home with a warm bed, food in the cupboards and a sense of security that being housed provides. Across the globe, Sleep Out events are held to raise awareness for local homeless issues and to raise crucial funds for the organisations struggling to support the homeless. The event this year was not nearly as rough as a night in a car park or sleeping in an alcove of a store front in the high street”.

“As participants arrived to register for the night entertainment was donated and provided by Christine Kinder, playing the most beautiful Harp, Bollywood dancers from the Swindon Hindu Temple performed as participants were nourished by delicious vegetarian onion bhajis, pakora's and vegetable samosa's and batata vada’s brought to share by our Hindu and Christian-Goan friends. Hot soups were also made and served by Gill Chapman and Linda Loveday. Attendees were also moved by the raw and emotive performance poetry by Matty Blades, who although now living independently, was previously homeless for 15 years before being assisted by Threshold some years ago. Barrie Matthews compered throughout the evening and ran a quiz event. Participants awoke the following day to a cooked breakfast sponsored and prepared by Gill Chapman, supported by Andrew Spinks, General Manager of The Village Hotel, who bought with him chef Luke Cattmore who together with volunteers all saw to it that nobody left hungry”.

Former Threshold service users also came out in solidarity for the charity. Poetry was performed by Matty Blades, who although now living independently, was previously homeless for 15 years before being assisted by Threshold some years ago. He said: “I met the most wonderful people. It was such a great event, great people turning out for such a great cause, what could be more important than that?"

Speaking ahead of the event, Amy Massey added: “After childhood, my teenage years and young adult life were filled with trauma and abuse, there was no surprise I would suffer with addiction problems and homelessness. 

“When I heard about Threshold’s Big Swindon SleepOut I instantly wanted to show my support. I spoke to my manager at the Nelson Trust and asked if I could get a group of ladies from the centre to show our support and sleep out together to raise community awareness that I feel Swindon very much needs. We have pulled together a team of ten, that are all excited to attend and raise awareness and hopefully some money for this great charity."

“My family used to worry about me so much that one of them told me that they used to worry that one day the phone would ring and give them the news that my life had ended due to my drug use and risky behaviour. I cannot stress enough the invaluable support and life progression that Threshold give to people who need somewhere to live. So many of us are only one pay cheque or one traumatic event away from being homeless or could cause them to slip into depression and engage with risky behaviour which can ultimately result in a life like mine used to be."

People wanting to donate can do so via www.thl.org.uk/support-us/donate

Read Jemma's story: www.swindonlink.com/9420/swindon-family-join-charity-big-sleep-out-in-support-of-threshold-housing-link/