Over 200 brave the cold to raise £57,000 for Herts charities

At Oaklands College, hundreds swapped sheets for sleeping bags, raising awareness and essential funds for five Hertfordshire homeless charities.

This group was all smiles as they slept rough for charity. (Image: Pearldrop Productions) Sponsored by local businesses Mullaley and Echelon, the event was also supported by the Watford Rapid Relief Team, who provided an early but warm breakfast, and The St Albans Arts team who kept spirits lifted with the evening entertainment.

The largest attendance yet included youth groups, businesses, families and other community members, who spent the night on cardboard beds, catching just a glimpse of the challenges faced by local vulnerable people. 

Organised by Herts Young Homeless (HYH), the event also saw support from notable attendees such as the Hertfordshire High Sheriff, Annie Brewster and the Mayor of St Albans, Cllr Jamie Day.

Whitehead, HYH CEO, said: “It is truly eye-opening to consider that for some of the young people we support, this is their reality, night after night. Our vision is for every young person to have a brighter future – centred around a safe home from which they can grow and thrive.

"We are humbled by the support of our local community and the generous sponsorship that so many have contributed to. All the money raised helps us to provide vital services to support families and young people, to break the cycle of youth homelessness."

Since the even on Friday, November 11, over £57,000 has been raised, with the amount still increasing.

Money raised will provide crucial support to the charities dedicated to combating homelessness in the community: Herts Young Homeless, Open Door, The Living Room, Centre 33 and Emmaus.

This group had made a fort of cardboard boxes to help keep them warm during the sleepout. (Image: Pearldrop Productions) From the supporting charities Emmaus Hertfordshire’s business development manager, Gemma Beckett, who took part in her second Sleepout on Friday, said: “It was a great turnout this year and we received such fantastic support from our companions, staff, trustees, volunteers and supporters."

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Peter Graham. acting chair of the Open Door Charity said: “The Sleepout raises an awareness of the reality of sleeping rough – albeit for only one night, with none of the anxiety, fear and desperation that those with no alternative to sleeping rough face, day in and day out."

While Mark Wiseman, The Living Room’s Deputy CEO added: "Homelessness and addiction form a vicious cycle, and it is events like St Albans Sleepout that help us raise awareness and break the stigma around this."

All of the charities offered their deepest gratitude to those who took part and donated to the cause.