This winter, businesses and individuals in one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods of London are banding together to make a difference for people experiencing homelessness.
RESTART Lives homelessness charity is based in Chelsea, where there is an alarmingly high number of people experiencing homelessness. On the 6th of December, the charity’s sleep out fundraiser will see up to 80 people from all walks of life spend the night in potential sub zero temperatures, experiencing a night in the life of many of the charity’s guests.
The group, including TV personality Gail Porter, and the charity’s founder Andrew Marshall, aims to raise £100,000 towards RESTART Lives’ life-changing work. Participants will be sponsored by friends, colleagues and other community members.
Latest figures show the highest-ever level of recorded homelessness in over ten years, with at least one in every 50 Londoners estimated to be homeless in 2024. That’s 183,000 people, the equivalent of filling Wembley Stadium twice.
Catherine Flay, CEO of RESTART Lives said: “We know that spending one night outside cannot compare to the harsh reality many of our guests face on a regular basis, but it gives our participants a glimpse into the lives of the thousands of people experiencing homelessness in London.”
“While the government remains shy about creating policies that would redirect national wealth towards helping our vulnerable individuals, the RESTART Lives sleep out will see people from far and wide standing up for homeless support, either by sleeping out with us or making generous donations to fund the essential work that our small charity does for people experiencing homelessness.”
Recent polling by Amnesty International shows that 72% of people believe that homelessness is a major problem in the UK and should be given urgent priority by Government ministers. Nearly three quarters agree that having access to a home is a fundamental human right and should be protected by law.
Currently, charities across the UK are doing vital work with limited funds and resources to support the homeless population. In the last financial year, RESTART Lives served over 14,000 hot meals to over 800 individuals. The small team of five, alongside their 100 volunteers, also provides one to one casework, therapy sessions, employability and wellbeing programmes, resource fairs for essential items, and a community drop in service. The sleep out will raise vital funds for the charity to continue its work.
The Sleepout takes place on 6th December 2024, running from 9 pm through to 7 am the next morning, outside St Columba’s Church in Chelsea – Pont St, London SW1X 0BD.
Anyone over 18, or over 11 if accompanied by a parent or guardian, can sign up at www.restartlives.org/sleepout2024. To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/restartsleepout2024.
