MORE than 40 brave volunteers slept alongside Southend’s homeless when they took on the Cardboard Box Challenge and raised £3,000.

The volunteers bedded down for a 12-hour sleep-out, braving wind and heavy rain to mark World Homeless Day.

They spent the night on damp, cold concrete in the grounds of Southend High School for Boys, Prittlewell Chase, to highlight the plight of those sleeping rough. They had only a 1sqm cardboard box for shelter.

The event, to raise awareness of the isolation and loneliness of homelessness, raised £3,000 for Southend homeless charity Harp, and included staff from the charity. The cash was raised through sponsorship and donations.

Gill Garwood, chief executive of Harp, said: “This has been a real success in focusing awareness of the homeless people sleeping on the streets in Southend. We are committed to end rough sleeping by 2018 and with the help of the public we can achieve this.”

Southend deputy mayor Andrew Moring offered support and talked with the “cardboard city” volunteers in the rain.

He spoke of Harp’s achievement in creating the BradburyCentre, inYork Road, – a new facility opened in the spring. It provides emergency accommodation, with 18 bedrooms, a day centre and training under one roof.

Mr Moring said: “The Bradbury Centre is an amazing feat. Harp works with other agencies and this offers homeless people real opportunities.”

Lucy Martin, Harp’s, fundraising manager said: “The homeless can feel isolated and ignored. Our Cardboard Box Challenge showed them someone cares. So many people have shown they care by sending that message through volunteering or donating.

We hope to have raised £3,000.”

Harp project worker Prakesh Shah, who took on the Cardboard Box Challenge, added: “This was a chance to really experience what it feels like to sleep rough.

“Homeless people are vulnerable.

They can be beaten up or abused.

They don’t even know if they will wake up in the morning.”

RBS fraud investigator Debbie Noble, who joined friends to raise £300 in sponsorship under the bank’s Community Cash Back Scheme, said: “We chose to volunteer for this challenge, but homeless people don’t have a choice.

“Without an address they cannot access services so they must feel invisible. The Bradbury Centre changes that and gives them a chance.”

Harp offers the homeless access to emergency accommodation, the chance to have a hot meal and receive advice and training.

Community groups supported the event, which included live entertainment, a BBQ and a hot breakfast to encourage the volunteers.

Waitrose provided the cardboard boxes, while Pier Management and the Regis