Bristol Homeless Forum
'Supporting the Homeless' Sleep Out

Introduction

The BCAN Homeless Forum ('BHF') is organising a 'Supporting the Homeless' Sleep Out in the grounds of Pip'n'Jay church on the night of Friday 27 February 2009, from 10 pm on Friday to 7 am on Saturday.

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.

The latest data from the Department of Communities and Local Government shows that there are nearly a million empty homes in the UK: 762,635 in England, 78,000 in Scotland and about 50,000 in both Northern Ireland and Wales. If this could be highlighted by the local media, we could be a strong voice for the voiceless.

Details

BHF will organise the event. For example, 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.

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, enough to sleep 200 people, 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.

We do not plan to provide car parking in the church grounds during the Sleep Out, but if anyone has a specific need to park a vehicle overnight, this can be arranged with the organisers.

Any other organisation or church wishing to support this event can either choose one of the member organisations to support, or can register in their own right, and any sponsorship they collect will then be distributed between the participating member organisations according to the number of people sleeping out.

BHF has established an organising committee to look after the practical arrangements for this event. At present, this committee consists of Tony Richmond, 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.

Contact Details

You can read a copy of the letter sent out to the BHF mailing list at the beginning of January.

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.

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

1. Alabaré Christian Care Centres: Tony Richmond, 0845 078 6808.
2. Bristol Methodist Centre: Ian Webb, 0117 955 5606.
3. Caring at Christmas: Ailsa McWilliam, 0117 924 4444.
4. Caring at Christmas Bristol Nightstop: Ailsa McWilliam, 0117 924 4444.
5. Christ Church, Clifton: Val Moore.
6. Crisis Centre Ministries: Paul Hazelden, 0117 942 3088.
7. Croft's End: Gilbert Davis.
8. Julian Trust: Richard Drake, 0783 153 9122.
9. Mustard Tree: Andy Lampard.
10. St Nicholas of Tolentino: Sr Bernadette Sammon.
11. (Also taking part:) Christ the Rock, supporting Alabaré
12. Wellspring, supporting Crisis Centre Ministries

These organisations between them booked 87 out of the 200 places available for sleeping out.