Barnet sleeps out to support the homeless

Between June and September, Homeless Action in Barnet challenged people across the borough to spend a night sleeping outside, raising money to improve conditions for rough sleepers, reports Leïla Davaud

Two people in a sleeping bags next to a fence, with a man and dog in the foreground in front an airbed — Big Sleep Out participants (Credit – Homeless Action in Barnet)

A Barnet charity has been challenging local people to spend a night sleeping outside to raise money to help rough sleepers.

In response to increased demand for Homeless Action in Barnet’s (HAB) support, it has organised a “Big Sleep Out”.

The goal was to raise money and awareness of the conditions rough sleepers face. Even though the participants had a certain level of comfort, the message was clear: show up for your community by sleeping “under the same sky”.

The homeless day centre hoped to get 100 people involved. So far, around 50 have participated and raised £8,500. Tom Nevitt, from HAB, tells the Post: “It has been genuinely moving to see people across Barnet willing to give up their comfort for a night to support those experiencing homelessness.

“Of course, sleeping outside for one night can never replicate the reality of homelessness, but it can help people think about what it means to have no safe place to go at the end of the day.”

Across the summer, different groups met to sleep outside, in secure spaces. Courtney Rose and her mother, Stephanie Cramer, took part on 26th September. Courtney says: “We slept in Temple Fortune in the Alyth synagogue’s courtyard with ten other people. We raised over £500, which was our target. We are delighted! One rough sleeper stayed with us, if he was reserved at first he opened up eventually. We learnt he was a very talented artist.

“It meant a lot to be doing it as mother and daughter. We both work a lot and it was good to do something meaningful together. We wish more people got involved. It’s only one night, we hope to see more members of the community showing up next time!”

Courtney and Stephanie are both engaged in different campaigns organised by HAB, such as “Walk in their shoes”, an event they participate in every year.

Tom says that, aside from the usual supporters, he found “particularly encouraging how many young people got involved: the vast majority of participants were under 18, including a Scout group and three different groups of students.

“We’d like to build on that with a broader youth-focused challenge, giving young people different ways to take part and raise funds and awareness, rather than sleeping out being the only option.”

HAB supports some of Barnet’s most vulnerable people. In a standard week, around 250 people seek support from the team.

Tom explains: “For us, the money raised is incredibly important. It helps us provide practical support such as food, showers and warm clothing, but also the longer-term support people need to move away from homelessness and rebuild their lives.

“Just as importantly, seeing people turn up, fundraise and talk about homelessness sends a powerful message to the people we support: their community cares about them and hasn’t forgotten them. We’re enormously grateful to everyone who took part.”

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