On Friday November 17th, I will be sleeping rough to raise money and awareness to help tackle homelessness in Swansea. This is something close to my heart 🤍 As many of you know I work in mental health supported living services and many of the clients I work with have a experienced homelessness as a result of their mental illness. I am undertaking this challenge by myself to push myself out of my comfort zone and experience the loneliness that comes with homelessness.

Swans Big Sleep Out aims to raise awareness of homelessness and some of its causes. Sleeping out for 1 night does not compare to the real thing but does give an idea and hopefully a better understanding of what some people are dealing with, especially as we move into the winter months, with nights getting longer, darker, and colder.

Thom Lynch of Matthew's House described this as a "crucial event." "It helps to raise awareness of some of the complicated realities of homelessness and in particular sleeping rough" he said, "and it also highlights the work we do so that more people in the city can get involved."

Paul France, Head of Swans Foundation, said that the funds raised will "help make a positive change in how we support homeless people in Swansea, and will support the Foundation’s new programme working with people and families affected by addiction."