Rentstart Journals vol. 3 - The SleepOut

Last month we hosted the SleepOut at Esher Rugby Club. After months of planning and advertising the event with local businesses, faith groups and schools, the evening was here. The team got to the venue at 4, and immediately started getting ready. There was a team setting up the stage and sound systems, a team with the photography exhibition, and another doing the health and safety guidance. At 6 o’clock, guests started to arrive

As those brave enough to sleep out started to arrive, we gave them their boxes and tape and they set up their homes. It as great to see so many people getting everything ready.

Two sets from Elmbridge Choir, with our ambassador David, and a back-to-back set with Vernon and our very own Andy rounded by a truly fantastic evening of fun and celebration of the community getting together for an important cause.

However, it was after this where it started to get cold!

At midnight, the 73 people who were sleeping out got ready for their night in a cardboard box. Then lights out. It was absolutely freezing! Andy and I were keeping patrol throughout the evening – mostly guiding people to the toilets! We took turns with who would sleep whilst the other kept an eye on things. It was truly horrible – incredibly difficult to be awake and alone in these conditions. I couldn’t even think straight, shivering constantly and this was it for the next six hours as sleep was particularly difficult in such cold temperatures.

Thankfully our guests slept more in their boxes than we did, and everybody got up with a great attitude and helped us clear away – with a bacon roll!

It was an insightful evening, and important to understand the real conditions thousands of people are living in throughout this winter period all across the country. Now, thankfully we were able to go home, but this is not the case for several people even within our community.

The point of the evening was to bring the community together and raise money for the important work of the Rentstart Support Team, so far we have raising almost £25,000. If you haven’t already donated please do, as we are very close to hitting our target!

George

Operations Coordinator