09.03.10
Young Volunteers sleep out at Watford FC to raise money for the YMCA
YOUNG volunteers bedded down for the night at Watford Football Club - braving bitter temperatures - to illustrate life on the streets.
About 80 people, between the ages of 16 and 24, forfeited their warm beds for one evening to experience a taste of homelessness and raise money for the YMCA Watford Hostel.
Decked in winter woollies, the volunteers, including pupils from Francis Combe, and West Herts College among others, slept rough in the Rookery End concourse at the Vicarage Road stadium on Friday night.
The sponsored sleep out was organised by national youth volunteering programme, Vinvolved, which is managed by and based at Watford and District YMCA.
Head of youth development Julia Collar said: “It’s good to get young people out of their comfort zones and have an authentic experience. Tonight is a taste of what it might be like to be living on the streets.”
One volunteer with first-hand experience of life as a homeless person was Lisa Canny. The 21-year-old, from Welwyn Garden City, who is now living back at home, spent five weeks sleeping rough and crashing on friend’s sofas, otherwise known as couch surfing, during the winter months last year.
Clutching a teddy bear, she told the Watford Observer: “It’s horrible. I hated not having somewhere warm to sleep. I know a few people who have been homeless and with nowhere to go. I thought it would be good for me to sleep somewhere cold for a while.
“I always thought that homeless people were lazy people that couldn’t be bothered to get on with their lives but I realise now that that’s not always the case.”
Throughout the evening the rough sleepers took part in several activities to pass the time, including a game of Twister and parachute challenges. Hot food and drink was also served throughout the evening to take the edge off the biting cold as temperatures dipped to two degrees. The town's Mayor Dorothy Thornhill also paid the rough sleepers a visit as they prepared their beds for the evening.
The money raised from the event will go towards buying a mini bus for the hostel.
Julia added: "Life in a hostel can be quite insular. It can be the only place residents go. To be able to provide trips out into the community and further afield to places like Alton Towers would be great.”
The event was also supported by Clydesdale Bank, which donated £850 towards the cause. And HW Fisher and Company, who donated £100.
Thanks to the Watford Observer and reporter Alexandra Barham for the coverage.
Craig Viccars from Clydesdale Bank presents Ruth Ellis, Watford YMCA’s Director of Operations, with a cheque for £850
