Homeless Forum
'Supporting the Homeless' Sleep Out

Introduction

The BCAN Homeless Forum ('BHF') is organising another 'Supporting the Homeless' Sleep Out on the night of Friday 26 February 2010.

The idea is that people will sleep out in the grounds of Pip 'n' Jay Church, arriving between 10 and 10:30 pm on Friday 26, and leaving between 6:30 and 7 am on Saturday 27.

There are several reasons for doing this.

• It is a fund-raising event.
• It is a concrete and peaceful way of demonstrating our indignation and protest against what is a national scandal. Every person has a right to decent housing.
• It is a way to raise awareness of the plight of homeless people in Bristol, and the work being done by so many organisations to help them.
• And it is a concrete way of demonstrating the way in which these organisations work together to help the homeless people in Bristol.

Details

BHF will organise the event. Amongst other things, we will liaise with Pip 'n' Jay, provide template sign-up and sponsorship forms, and arrange some light refreshments (such as hot drinks and soup), first aid and stewards for the night. Each organisation taking part is asked to contribute £15 towards the administrative costs of organising this event.

Each of the homeless ('member') organisations taking part will organise their own volunteers to sleep out, raise their own sponsorship, and generate what publicity they can for their own organisation.

If your organisation or church works to help homeless people, you are invited to participate and raise funds for your own work. Otherwise, we ask you to nominate the organisation (or organisations) you wish to support.

BHF will also undertake a Health & Safety assessment, and pass the details on to the Sleep Out contact at each member organisation taking part. Member organisations are expected to pass these details on to each person sleeping out, along with any other instructions and guidance they offer. Member organisations, of course, remain responsible for the behaviour and the health and safety of their people taking part.

Because there is only a limited amount of space available to us, each organisation signing up will be given a pack of sign-up forms - in the first place, up to 20. If any more are required, they will be allocated from the beginning of February on a first-come first-served basis until all the places are allocated. Any unused places should be returned to the organisers by the end of January so that they can be re-allocated to people wishing to sleep out.

There is only limited space for car parking in the church grounds during the Sleep Out, and arrangements will be made for each participating organisation to park up to two nominated vehicles on the grounds overnight.

BHF has established an organising committee to look after the practical arrangements for this event. At present, this committee consists of Ian Webb, Gemma Nokes, Val Moore, Richard Drake and Paul Hazelden. If you would like to help organise this event, please contact us.

We are very grateful for the help and support of the Bristol St John Ambulance in providing first aid cover for this event.

Please contact Crisis Centre Ministries if you have any questions about this event.

(You can still read the details about the 2009 Sleep Out if you are interested...)

You can read a copy of the invitation letter which is being sent out to our contacts.

To sign up and receive the template documents and your allocation of places, please complete the Registration Form and return it to Crisis Centre Ministries.

Taking Part

To support a participating member organisation, please contact them directly. The contact details (in alphabetical order!) are as follows.

1. Alabaré Christian Care Centres: Gemma Nokes, 0845 078 6808.
2. Bristol Methodist Centre: Ian Webb, 0117 955 5606.
3. Caring at Christmas/Bristol Nightstop: Claire Reed.
4. Christ Church, Clifton: Val Moore.
5. Clevedon Baptist Church: Arnett McCluskey.
6. Crisis Centre Ministries: Paul Hazelden, 0117 942 3088.
7. Ebenezer Church: Stewart North.
8. Highgrove Christian Fellowship: Ed Marsh.
9. Holy Trinity Church, Hotwells: Judith Murray.
10. Julian Trust: Richard Drake, 0783 153 9122.
11. Mustard Tree Community Church: Andy Lampard.
12. One25: Josie Hill.
13. Rolls Royce Christian Union: Richard Townsend
14. Wellspring Community Church: Andy Luxford