The Big Sleep Out

On Friday 2nd December myself and Lee Marsham another of the UpRising Alumni Advisory Board in Birmingham literally took to the streets to help raise money for St Basils, a young Persons homeless Charity.

The night began at 7 o’clock when we arrived at the St Basils car park and collected our cardboard box and plastic bag  to begin work on our bed for the night.  One hour, 1 roll of parcel tape and half a roll of sticky tape later we finally had a bed for the night.

We took the opportunity to have a look at some of the creations the other 250 sleepers had created. There were some seriously impressive structures going on with people combining their boxes to make massive shelters whilst others had gone for a more minimalist look simply laying their boxes flat on the floor. The night was young and spirits were high with people networking and a few people even having a sing along in the corner.

The wind was blowing and there were also spots of rain in the air so we decided our boxes needed waterproofing or it was going to be a soggy night. Using our plastic bag as a waterproof cover our bed was taken to a new level of comfort, with people even stopping to take photographs of our creation.

At 9:30 we took our seats in the chapel, taking the chance for some respite from the wind and rain, but most importantly to hear from those in charge at St Basils and those who have benefitted from the support they provide.

We heard that each year St Basils supports 4000 young people. The support comes not only in giving young people a safe and secure place to stay but also in building their confidence and life skills such as self esteem, teamwork and communication. When hearing from the people who have benefitted from the support St Basils offers it is these skills they say have meant the most to them. It was interesting to hear how people had networked so far and discussed the different ways they could help with this kind of support as well as offering work experience and mentoring to young people.

After the short talk we returned to check on our bed to find that disaster had struck. The rain had come down heavy whilst we were in the chapel and our box needed some desperate repair work. We used the last of our sticky tape to do some damage limitation and ensure our box was completely watertight.

By now the gates to the car park were closed and no more people were being allowed in to take part in the sleepout. We had another look around at mingled with some of Birmingham Future, who were getting into the Christmas spirit with fairy lights on their boxes!

By now the temperature had dropped and I was really feeling the cold despite wearing numerous layers of clothing, so I headed to the small fire that was keeping people warm in the middle of the car park. The Lord Mayor then arrived taking the time to talk to people and admire some of their creations, before starting the midnight mass.

At 1:00am it was lights out. Everyone had to try and get some sleep, with some people even having to go to work the next morning. The car park was eerily quiet, with the only noise coming from the wind and rain. Being able to hear the footsteps of the security guards walking around you, of the wind blowing, but not knowing where it was coming  from was incredibly daunting and we were in a secure car park. The feeling of vulnerability increases immensely if you take that security away, something that people who have to sleep rough don’t have.

By 5:00am most people were awake and had begun clearing the site to return to their everyday lives. It was later that day that the true effect of what I had done began to sink in. I was tired and had no energy after sleeping rough for one night. The young people who face this day in day out have the real challenge. Having to find work or deal with family issues whilst not knowing where you are going to sleep must be incredibly daunting.

Overall the experience was a real eye opener for me. I was aware of some of the issues that people who were homeless faced and through my social action project had a good understanding of the support that was available for homeless people. Putting myself in their shoes though, really made me understand just how easy it would be to fall into a vicious circle and just how difficult it is to turn things around.

To date St Basils have received over £40,000 worth of donations from this event. Myself and Lee have raised nearly £500.