Having always supported Shelter’s Christmas Appeal, the initiative at St Mary’s Hadleigh (sister church to All Saints') organizing a sleep-out to raise funds and awareness of their work seemed an ideal opportunity to extend that support. When a nurse teacher in Bristol at the then Avon College of Nursing, the annual September intake of about 150 students raised funds for The Julian Trust in Bristol. Outside London, Bristol has the biggest homelessness problem. This organisation, founded in 1969, has a Night Shelter open from 8pm four nights a week offering a bed, meals, showers, clean clothes and a laundry service. However, at Christmas they have permission from Bristol City Council to be open for the full 24 hours over 7-10 days (depending how the public holidays fell) offering residential support for up to 50 guests, as well as day visitors when they link up with St Mungo’s to explore more long term solutions. Counselling, medical and numerous other facilities are also on offer mostly staffed by volunteers. I used to volunteer over the Christmas Bank Holidays. Each year I gave the new student intake the responsibility of organizing  bring and buy sale for the charity.

8 ladies (two octogenarians) and 6 men took up the challenge in the church and we bedded down for the night on 26th January in the unheated, unlit St Mary’s church. I was lent a camping memory mattress, a snuggly Captain Marvel Teddy Fleecy Blanket Hoodie and large heavy fleece blanket. With my hand warmers, woolly socks, thermal long johns, and hot water bottle filled from the available kettle, I was as warm as toast except on trips to the loo when aware of how cold the church was, though soon warmed up when once more under cover. Slept fitfully and Andrew Janas’ breakfast served us on Saturday morning at 7.30am by the team of folk led by MaryLou (she, Claire and others helped us bed down the night before) who came to the church at 6.45am was very much appreciated. On return home, I put the electric blanket on and, after sorting out everything, went to bed and slept until 1pm. Even so, took a couple of days to fully catch up with lost sleep. Do feel that, compared with what the homeless have to deal with when sleeping rough, my experience was more symbolic.

Having lived in many areas of England I contacted friends from years back with whom I correspond annually at Christmas with mutual updates, and they were extremely generous in giving sponsorship. Support from Hadleigh and Shelley contacts was overwhelming and a big thank you goes to them. Though would not repeat the process, glad I did it and can only again say a big thank you to sponsors, for the practical support from members of the churches and for the work of Shelter.