Charity Fund-Raisers Sleep Under The Stars


Vital funds raised for drop-in centre

Thirty people slept overnight on the streets of Wimbledon to raise much-needed funds for a project which helps rough sleepers in the area.

The "Big Sleep-Out" on Saturday June 25 should have raised more than £5,000 for the Faith In Action project.

The group of people, including ten teenagers, 'slept rough' in the gardens of Holy Trinity Church and the Polka Theatre in The Broadway, Wimbledon.

Luckily they had a mild night for the event and were heartened by more than £100 worth of donations from passers-by.

Pictured right are those taking part in the event.

The Faith In Action charity runs a drop-in centre for the homeless and other marginalised people at the Salvation Army Hall in Kingston Road.

It costs £66,000 a year to run the centre, which opens twice a week offering a service including meals, food parcels, clothes, showers and laundry facilities.

Through links with local social services, primary care and mental health services, housing departments, drug and alcohol treatment agencies and voluntary groups like Alcoholics Anonymous it can also offer wider help to people using the centre.

The charity needs 1,100 people to donate £5 per month to cover the entire cost of the two-day drop-in centre. It also welcomes donations of clothing and food, as well as voluntary help.

To make a donation for their "Big Sleep-Out", visit: Faith In Action Sleepover.

June 30, 2011