Big Sleepout 2019
On Friday 29th March, 5 members of staff and some of the year 12 and 13 students took part in the annual big sleepout. The big sleepout is an ongoing event we organise every year in order to raise money for Porchlight, in the hope of helping to support young and vulnerable people in our area.
Over a series of years, we have developed a great relationship with Porchlight as a school and our annual big sleepout is a great way for us to raise both money and awareness for this charity. Porchlight is a charity in which helps people who have nowhere to go and no-one to turn to. Not only do they focus on helping the homeless, but they also take the time to support others who are generally struggling to cope with the pressures in their lives.
From 6pm, both students and teachers began arriving to the school with their sleeping bags and blankets ready to experience the night as homeless people do; everyone laid out cardboard on the floor where they were going to be spending the night ahead. After this, students and staff spent the evening socialising, playing games and trying to keep warm.
The sleepout was overall a very enjoyable experience and allowed all of us to understand what it is like to sleep rough. It also made us realise what some people are living like every day and how challenging it is for them. Students have given very positive feedback about the experience of the sleepout:
“It was a very enjoyable experience”
“It bought everyone together and was an fun way of raising money for a good charity”
“The sleepout made us understand how difficult it is for people sleeping rough”
From participating in the sleepout, we have received many donations from parents, students, family, friends and governors. Currently, we have raised an amazing amount of £1,844.01 which will go towards supporting the vulnerable people in the area, who have to spend every night rough. We would love to keep the donations going in order to try and reach our stretched target of £2000.00.
https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/StSimonStock
By Ellie Tomlin
