More than 60 sleep rough in aid of the homeless (From Echo)
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MORE than 60 sleep rough in aid of the homeless
4:00pm Wednesday 6th March 2013 in News By David Trayner
Nikki Jew and Natasha Evans were among the volunteers taking part
VULNERABLE youths at risk of homeless have thanked volunteers who raised more than £8,000 sleeping rough for a night.
More than 60 people slept in the car park of Southend YMCA in freezing temperatures with only sleeping bags and cardboard boxes to protect them to raise money for the charity on Saturday.
Katie Edwards, 18, who is one of the 30 young people housed at the centre in Ambleside Drive, Southend, said: “It’s amazing that so many people have come to support the homeless.”
Matthew Perry, 19, also at the centre, said: “It’s nice to see they are coming out of their comfort zone to raise money for those who live here.
“It’s nice to see that people do care – not just hear about it.”
Individuals and groups, including staff from Southend accountants Goldwyns, Olympus KeyMed, South Essex Homes and Southend Council and members of Leigh Town Council, faced frosty sleeping bags as temperatures dropped to -1C.
Echo reporters David Trayner and Jack Monroe took part in the event.
To sponsor the volunteers email tommoulton@southendymca.org.uk or visit www.southendymca.org.uk.
Comments are closed on this article.
Comments (13)
4:46pm Wed 6 Mar 13
supermadmax says...
However if the Echo really wanted to help, rather than forcing two junior reports to spent the night in the cold for cheap PR, it would be good if you donated a days profit to the cause.
9:21pm Wed 6 Mar 13
Shoebury_Cyclist says...
10:07pm Wed 6 Mar 13
jolllyboy says...
10:36pm Wed 6 Mar 13
Almeda11 says...
lt`s an outrage, in other, less stupid countries than the uk, you have to have either been living there for 8 years, supporting yourself, or have worked there.
Here, they let their own people sit on the streets begging, while giving immigrants everything. lt`s a disgrace, charity begins at home in my book, the germans and other eu countries have got the right idea, the uk definitely has not.
9:51am Thu 7 Mar 13
Shoebury_Cyclist says...
As a result people don't care about the homeless, the poor, the sick, the disabled and the elderly.
10:10am Thu 7 Mar 13
whateverhappened says...
2:17pm Thu 7 Mar 13
Almeda11 says...
Firstly party politics or whichever party is in at the time has NOTHING to do with the way l feel. l either feel for someone or don`t feel for them, which is down to my personality and conscience.
Those feelings are mine, and mine alone and not influenced by polititians, l take responsibility for my own feelings.
And secondly, you say " people don`t care" but my point was that it is the COUNCIL`s responsibility, not individuals, to make sure that british people are not sleeping rough, and they should put our people first.
3:40pm Thu 7 Mar 13
Red Under Your Bed says...
4:13pm Thu 7 Mar 13
Jack Monroe says...
I rarely comment on Echo stories on here but thought I would clarify that the Echo didn't 'force' anyone to do anything. I signed up for Sleep Easy before Christmas, and started with the newspaper the week before the event, definitely not enough time for them to strongarm me into sleeping out in the cold if I hadn't already volunteered. Oh, and if anyone fancies donating - its http://www.justgivin
g.com/jackmonroeslee
peasy
Jack.
4:46pm Thu 7 Mar 13
stopmoaning1 says...
The thing with most posters on this site is that if they don’t agree with your own personal views or comments you become subject to abuse and name calling. Then the comments start to go way off topic and a platform to spout their own politics.
9:29pm Thu 7 Mar 13
Carnabackable says...
9:18pm Fri 8 Mar 13
Almeda11 says...
9:26pm Fri 8 Mar 13
Almeda11 says...
What they don`t seem to understand that a persom can be an INDIVIDUAL, which is very much what l am,and proud of it too, among the many sheep here in the uk!