Charity Sleep Out to raise funds

A local charity who offer essential services to people in need are holding a fundraising event.

WSUP offer essential services including a warm and safe community space where people in need can access hot meals, showers, haircuts, a laundry service and a clothing bank. 

They are organinsing 'The Big Sleep Out', to raise money to support the essential services they provide for the community.

Because of the lack of affordable housing and the cost-of-living crisis, homelessness is on the rise. Although rough sleeping is the most visible form of homelessness, many of the charity's users are sofa surfing with friends or relatives, or living in unsuitable temporary accommodation.

The charity say they are not emulating what it’s like for people sleeping on the streets, but want to bring the community together in solidarity for those experiencing homelessness and talk about what we can do collectively to end homelessness.

They're asking the community to challenge themselves by doing something unusual, and encourage their friends, family and colleagues to sponsor them to show that they care and want to make a difference

£200 pays for the charity to open the drop-in centre for a day, where they offer essential services, including a warm and safe community space where people in need can access hot meals, showers, haircuts, a laundry service and a clothing bank.

The charity rely on donations to fund their services.

To find out more, see the WSUP website.

We'll be live as the fundraising gets underway this Thursday on Greenwich Drive, from 4pm.