I am doing the Big Sleep Out 2023 for many reasons - mainly,
because homelessness is something that in this day and age should not be
accepted and we need as much funding for the amazing work that both The Macari
Centre and Stoke City Community Trust carry out.

Some of you may know, during my formative years as a teen,
and during the ages of 14 - 16 was lucky enough to be offered indoor areas to
sleep in, sofas to sleep on, and eventually a hostel at 17. So many people
don't even have access to that, and unfortunately become accustomed? to living
the way that they do. There are horrific stories of those living on the streets
being urinated on, beaten up, spat on!! Yet a study carried out in 2021, showed
that around 300k of us Brits are only one payslip away from homelessness
ourselves!

Since leaving care technically at 16, I have faced
homelessness and/or been homeless 9 times, within 6 years!

I moved to Stoke in 2008 at the tender age of 23, got a full-time
job within a fortnight, and yet in the following 3 months faced homelessness
again twice! Having gone through two rather different and rather difficult situations
of renting rooms… fast forward 15 years on nearly, I am living in my own home with
my partner, which is the longest in my (ahem) 37 years, that I have ever lived in
the same home.

Whilst being a “care leaver” I am also now a Foster Parent
and have been for 9 years – this is also another area where the “system” fails
people - researchers have found that between 31% and 46% of youth exiting
foster care experience homelessness by age 26…

The scale of homelessness is a notoriously difficult thing
to quantify. There are many different types of homelessness, for starters. It’s
not just rough sleeping — there are people trapped in temporary accommodation
or hostels and shelters. And it is not always a visible problem. Hidden
homelessness, also known as sofa surfing, is virtually impossible to count as
people staying at friends or relatives’ homes are out of sight and often don’t
consider themselves to be homeless.

This is why I am thankful that Stoke City Community Trust
are holding The Big Sleep Out once again in 2023. This year’s event will be
staged at the bet365 Stadium on Friday, February 17, and sponsored for a second
consecutive year by Tile Mountain. The charitable initiative encourages supporters
and the wider community to help raise awareness of homelessness within the city
and its surrounding areas. Participants get first-hand experience of what it’s
like to brave the elements overnight as they bed down inside and outside the
Franklyn Stand concourse, all whilst raising much-needed funds for local
charities. The charities who will benefit in 2023 are The Macari Centre and
Stoke City Community Trust.

Thank you for reading and thank you in advance for donating,
even if it is £1

Ricci