As the weather turns colder in Autumn and most
of us retreat to our fireplaces with a hot cup of tea in hand – reality starts
to creep in for homeless people who face sleepless nights on the increasingly
frosty streets of Nottingham.

 In a bid to support this most vulnerable

portion of our community, I’ve decided to take part in this year’s annual CEO Sleepout event, which invites
local business managers to spend one night on the streets to gain a small
insight into the discomfort and harsh conditions of sleeping rough.

 It is alarming to see how quickly homelessness

is spreading in Nottinghamshire. As the Housing Operations Manager at
Nottinghamshire YMCA, I see every day how scary and dangerous life on the
streets can be for the hundreds of vulnerable adults and young people who come
through our doors searching for support.

 By physically taking to the streets, we hope

the sleepout will make a visceral statement to help remind our community of
real and often life-threatening challenges that face the most vulnerable
members of our society on a daily basis.

 ‘The Homeless Monitor’, a report by the

national charity Crisis, revealed that rough sleeping in England has risen from
1,768 cases in 2009/10 to 4,751 cases in 2016/17 – marking a staggering 169%
increase in rough sleeping during this period.

 When you’re living on the streets, even the

smallest contribution can sometimes mean the difference between life and death.

 My goal is to raise £1,000 so that local

homeless charities can provide the support needed to give someone experiencing
a homelessness a bed, somewhere warm and safe to stay and the chance to create
a brighter future for themselves.

 Any sponsorship, no matter how large or small,

will be very gratefully received as your input has the power to make a
life-changing impact by giving a local homeless person a safe place to sleep
and a real chance of building a better future.

 Thank you so much for your amazing support!

Nick