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 2 March 2012.

The basic idea is that people will sleep outside for a night in the grounds of Pip 'n' Jay Church. We ask people to arrive between 10 and 10.30 pm on the night of Friday 2 March, and leave between 6.30 and 7 am on the morning of Saturday 3.

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.

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.

There is only limited space for car parking in the church grounds during the Sleep Out, but a limited amount of parking for nominated vehicles can be provided if arranged in advance.

BHF has established an organising committee to look after the practical arrangements for this event. At present, this committee consists of 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 for providing first aid cover for this event.

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

Join Us

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 and generate publicity for.

Each of the organisations and churches taking part will organise their own volunteers to sleep out, raise their own sponsorship, and generate what publicity they can for themselves or the organisation they are supporting.

To sign up and receive the template documents, please read the Invitation Letter, then complete the Registration Form and return it to Crisis Centre Ministries.

• Registration Form
• Invitation Letter
• Health and Safety Letter

Taking Part

The following organisations are taking part in the 2012 sleepout. If you are joining us and not on the list, please let the CCM office know.

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

1. Bristol Methodist Centre: Ian Webb, 0117 955 5606.
2. Bristol Samaritans: Susheel Chumber.
3. Caring at Christmas: Rhiannon.
4. Christ Church, Clifton: Val Moore.
5. Crisis Centre Ministries: Paul Hazelden, 0117 330 1230.
6. Julian Trust: Richard Drake, 0783 153 9122.
7. One25: Josie Hill.