Hello,

For those of you who don't know me, I'm Kelly Coate and I'm Pro Vice Chancellor for Education and Student at the University of Sussex.

On Saturday 6 April 2019, myself and the University’s director of library services Jane Harvell will be taking part in the CEO Sleep Out outside the i360.

The event will see members of local organisations and businesses sleep rough for one night to raise money for the good causes selected by Councillor Dee Simson in her year as Brighton and Hove mayor.

Proceeds from the event will support the work of four local charities; Martlets, Rockinghorse, Grace Eyre and Off The Fence.

We are being allowed only a sleeping bag, pillow and cardboard sheet for comfort for the fundraising challenge and we will be sleeping out from 8pm to 8am.

I have been motivated to take part in the challenge by the sad sight of the increasingly visible community of rough sleepers in the city she has called home for six years, plus the passion she has seen from Sussex students determined to do something to help tackle the growing issue.

The number of homeless people in Brighton and Hove has increased noticeably in recent years and actually increased quite a lot very recently.

You feel very helpless when you’re walking past in parts of Brighton when there’s lots of homeless people in a small area and you can’t help everyone.

I also know how important it is to the students at Sussex. The students have told us it’s among their priorities and I know that students are actively involved in supporting homeless charities themselves.

Brighton has such a great community spirit. I see a lot of people helping, stopping, talking to homeless people, offering them food but unfortunately it’s not enough and we need to do more. That moment of kindness is great in itself but it does not solve the issue.

That’s why I want to raise money for the charities that will be able to run the structures that can support them for a lot longer.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope you might be moved to give what you can towards these great causes.