Big Night Out raises cash for St Petrock’s

Last weekend saw 18 intrepid people slept out to help the homeless.

The event, in which people were invited to 'sleep rough' in their gardens, sheds, on sofas or in the countryside, aimed both to raise awareness of homelessness and the challenges faced by rough sleepers in Exeter, and to encourage people to give financially towards the cost of running the vital services Exeter’s homelessness charity, St Petrock’s provides to help rough sleepers survive and find a way off the streets.

And more than £4,500 was collected as part of what was dubbed the #BigNightOut.

Rowan Livingstone, Homelessness Services Manager for the charity, said: “This is the first time St Petrock’s has organised a sleep out like this, and we were been blown away by the level of support from the community and partner agencies. Our work is totally dependent on the generosity of local people, and once again they have shown how much they care about those in our city for whom basic survival is a daily reality”.

St Petrock’s Director, Peter Stephenson, spent the night in his garden shed and says he found it made him reflect again on the challenges faced by rough sleepers.

Peter added: “This was just one night. I was safe. I had good shelter from rain or wind. It was a very mild night. There was no risk of being assaulted or abused. I always had the option of heading inside if it got too much. And a hot shower, breakfast and coffee awaited me in the morning.

“That is a million miles away from the experience of rough sleepers. For them it is night after night. They are not safe, but vulnerable to abuse and assault. Their shelter is minimal or non-existent. They don’t have the option of going inside if they find it unbearable. And if it weren't for St Petrock's, there would be no coffee, breakfast or shower the next day. An utterly miserable existence."

St Petrock’s relies on donations from members of the public for the majority of its funding. Donations can be made via its website stpetrocks.org.uk.