The Big Sleep 2024
Wednesday, 20 March 2024
The Big Sleep 2024 - Supporting The Bridge Homelessness to Hope
The Bridge Homelessness to Hope is a local Leicester charity close to our hearts here at Dupli. Last night, we again participated in their annual fundraising activity, The Big Sleep.
Claire and Harley, equipped with their thermals and sleeping bags, braved the cold for a night under the stars at the University of Leicester's Centenary Square. Claire's account of this experience, shared below, brings to life the reality of homelessness and the importance of our support.
I know it's hard to tell by looking at us today because we've been home and freshened up, but Harley and I completed The Big Sleep 2024 last night.
Originally forecast as 11 degrees and dry, we were in high spirits when we arrived and were looking forward to a fairly uneventful night, but six hours of rain soon changed that.
We arrived onsite to get settled and listen to a Q&A session with David Fawcett, CEO of The Bridge, one of their caseworkers, Ella and volunteer Rob, whom The Bridge had supported during his homelessness.
We learnt that The Bridge supports around 175 people in their core group, with more people regularly needing help.
David shared some shocking stats. Due to several factors, including Leicester's open-door refugee policy and the lack of available social housing caused by the Right To Buy scheme, homelessness in Leicester has risen by 74% in the last year. He told us that if you are a single person, once on the housing register, it can take up to four years to get into council accommodation. To be eligible for further support, you must be found sleeping rough by the council. These frightening stats, with no signs of improvement on the horizon, prove why charities like The Bridge offer such a valuable lifeline to those who need it.
After the Q&A, we bedded down, and then the rain started. There was a light drizzle at first, and the marshalls tried to move us into the sports hall, but we decided to stick it out. Who knew we were so stubborn?!
We were kindly gifted an umbrella and some plastic sheeting that dried our resolve and pushed us towards the 5 am dawn chorus.
Packing up our soggy sleeping bags, coats, and shoes made us think about those who were not privileged enough to go home and pour a nice hot bath before changing into clean, dry clothes. Thinking about the recent British weather, we couldn't imagine how it would feel to have no respite from these conditions day after day.
We had just a taster of what it might be like to sleep rough, but we were in a safe place surrounded by others and the knowledge we were going home. Thinking of the added dangers and threats that the homeless face, along with health issues, poor conditions and continuous stress, really made us question the reality of life for people on the streets.
Thank you to everyone who supported us, and a big shout out to Heidelberg Materials for the umbrella! You can support The Bridge Homelessness to Hope here.