Sleeping outdoors to raise money for homeless charities in Barnet By Lee Rodwell
The Big Sleep Out launch: from left, John Bier, HAB chair, Cllr Anne Clarke, comedian Simon Brodkin and Darren Haringman, TiB co-chair
The Big Barnet Sleep Out is back. The event – returning after a gap of two years because of the pandemic – aims to increase awareness of homelessness in Barnet and raise money to help fight it. This year there is one big difference: you can take part by holding a sleep out at home.
A group of hardy participants will be braving the elements and swapping their comfortable beds for sleeping bags in a synagogue car park overnight on Saturday 26th March. Each will be sponsored to raise at least £350. Elsewhere, others will be camping out in their garden or sleeping on the floor in their living room.
John Bier, chair of HAB (Homeless Action Barnet), said:
“We know that youngsters are often very concerned about problems such as homelessness. Being able to hold a sleep out at home means that under-18s can also take part this year.”
The Big Barnet Sleep Out was launched at an event in Finchley on Monday 7th February.
Anne Clarke, Barnet Councillor for Childs Hill and London Assembly member for Barnet and Camden, said:
“People think of Barnet as being leafy, wealthy and lovely – and it is. But we also have poverty and homelessness. We all know how important it is for people to have a warm, safe space to sleep so that they can get on with their lives. That’s why I’ll be taking part.”
Stand-up comedian and Barnet resident Simon Brodkin was also at the launch.
He said: ”I live in a nice part of Barnet. But there is poverty. I have two children and they ask questions when they see someone without a home.”
The fundraiser is organised by HAB and Together in Barnet (TiB). This year’s target is £25,000.
Darren Haringman, co-chair of TiB, said: “This is a vitally important fundraising event and we hope it will be even more successful than our last.”
John Bier added: “We do not pretend that the sleep out will match the sense of danger, hunger and despair which people sleeping rough on our streets face every day, but it is a powerful way to raise money for the charities and raise awareness of homelessness in all its forms.”
Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.
The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.
If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.
Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.
Monthly direct debit
Annual direct debit
£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.
No news is bad news 
Enjoying Barnet Post? You can help support our not-for-profit newspaper and news website from £5 per month.