Press Release

Happy campers show their support for Alabaré

Some 150 volunteers in Wiltshire, Hampshire and Bristol turned out to put their extra day this Leap Year to good use – to support homeless charity Alabaré.

They took part in a series of sponsored Sleep Outs and Sleep Ins that the charity had organised – it all took place overnight on Friday 29th February.

Sleepers dug out their sleeping bags and woolly hats and bed down for the night at a number of different venues across the area – the money raised at each event will go towards Alabaré projects in that area.

St Marks Church, Salisbury

37 people slept on the floor of St Marks Church.  Sleepers varied in age and included a group of ten pupils from St Edmunds School, all wearing matching pink hoodies for the occasion.

It’s hoped around £2000 was raised at this event, which will go towards the Salisbury Drop In Centre.

St Thomas Church

A dedicated group of five held their own event and camped down outside, in the porch of the Church.  This put them in direct view of the passing flow of Friday night revellers and gave them a real sense of vulnerability.  What surprised them more was the amount of people who didn’t even notice them sleeping there. 

One of the sleepers, a 16 year old pupil from St Edmunds, asked after an uncomfortable night’s sleep, “but how do they live the next day?”  A very powerful comment.

It’s hoped this group raised around £500 for the Salisbury Drop In Centre.

St Mary and St Nicholas Church, Wilton 

Seven people, including the Curate, camped down at this impressive venue and between them raised approximately £500.  This will go towards the Barford Countryside Unit in Barford St Martin.

King Arthur’s Hall, Andover

A team of five took to the floor of King Arthur’s Hall, raising some £500 for the Test Valley Foyer – a trio of projects supporting young people.

Romsey Abbey

35 sleepers, ranging in age from 10 year olds to someone in their 70s, camped out in Romsey Abbey.  During the evening there was also a service of Compline led by the Assistant Curate at the Abbey, Rev. Tim Harling.  Most people reported having a reasonably comfortable night but it was clear that the event had made the many taking part think about the issues surrounding homelessness and the many services provided by Alabaré. 

It’s hoped that around £2000 was raised by those at Romsey Abbey for the Test Valley Foyer for young people.

(Detailed project information in notes below)

The Sleep Outs were arranged as a follow up to Poverty and Homelessness Action Week, which ran from Homelessness Sunday (27th January) to Poverty Action Sunday (3rd February).  The week is all about working towards ending homelessness and poverty in our nation.

Churches and Community Fundraiser for Alabaré, Tony Richmond, said “I am delighted with how well the Sleep Outs and Ins went on Friday; it was great to see so many people giving up their beds for the night and helping raise money for Alabaré projects.”

“The events were only designed to give sleepers a very small taste of the challenges that can be faced by rough sleepers and proved to be an effective way of making people think about homelessness and the many issues surrounding it.”

“I would like to say a huge thank you to all of those who took part and also to those who sponsored them, you’re support will help make a huge difference.”

Other Sleep Outs/Ins were held at the following venues:

Edington:        Edington Priory Church (indoors)

Raised approximately £3000 for the Devizes and Trowbridge Drop In Centres

Bristol:             Clifton Cathedral (outdoors)

Raised approximately £1000 for our services in Bristol

-Ends-

For more information or to arrange an interview call Lara Higgins on 01722 344484

Alabaré Christian Care Centres is a regional charity, providing a range of services including supported housing, floating support services, drop-in centres, information, advice and training services and a registered care home.  The charity works with the homeless, ex-offenders, young people, individuals with a learning difficulty, vulnerable women and people with drug and alcohol problems, aiming to assist them with realising their potential and becoming valued members of society.  www.alabare.co.uk

Project Information

The Wiltshire Drop In Centres – Devizes, Salisbury and Trowbridge - offer a warm and welcoming safe daytime shelter for vulnerable adults who are homeless, facing homelessness or living in unsuitable accommodation.  They provide hot meals and drinks, showers, laundry facilities and a clothing exchange service.  They also offer support and advice on housing and employment.

The Barford Countryside Unit, a converted old farmyard building in Dairy Lane, is a training facility for clients with a variety of support needs.  It has an IT suite, a woodwork workshop, kitchen facilities, a pottery barn, a textile workshop and a horticultural project.  Clients can undertake skills training, personal development and vocational courses which are accredited by the National Proficiency Test Council.

The Test Valley Foyer is made up of three facilities: The Junction, Sarum House and Oasis House.  http://www.hants.gov.uk/testvalleyfoyer

The Junction is an Internet café and training facility for 13 to 25 year olds.  It provides a safe space where they can access the Internet, information, advice, guidance and training on a diverse range of issues including housing, education, and health. The Junction also has a number of meeting rooms and training facilities that can be hired out by the public when the young people aren’t using them.

Sarum House is a hostel for young people aged 16-25 who are homeless or facing homelessness.  It provides low to intensive housing related support for 18 young people who have a variety of complex needs, including those leaving custodial sentences.

Oasis House is a supported housing project for young people aged 16 to 25 who are homeless, facing homelessness, or in need of structured support.  It provides support to a maximum of five people who want to work towards independent living.