St David’s Staff Fundraiser for the Homeless

Sleep Out Team:

Fr Benny Dennis, Kane Amos, Olivia McLaren, Matthew Miller, Liz Newham, Yvonne Prescott, Rhian Hughes, Alex Jackson, Kahina Hammoudi, Lorraine Ledentu, Paul Smith, Philippa Marshall, Mel Holmes, Haley Hughes, Matt Todd, Estelle Daly and Rhys Tranter.

This fundraiser aims to provide an opportunity for staff to take collective action to raise awareness of homelessness and help raise funds to support initiatives, including the Huggard Centre, which help those who experience homelessness or displacement.

Our event will never replicate the experience of rough sleeping, and does not aim to do so: it is impossible for those of us who have not experienced homelessness or displacement to truly understand the challenges, loneliness and desperation that many people face every night, whether bedding down on the pavement, a night bus, disused building, in a B&B or on a different sofa each night. However, we can step out of our comfort zone to do something different and relatable to advocate for those who are vulnerable in our community.

St David’s staff will be distributing bags of food items and essentials to the homeless in Cardiff city centre, before taking part in a Sleep Out event on site from 8pm to 8am from Wednesday 18 to Thursday 19 December. Participants will give up home comforts to sleep on the floor with just a sleeping bag, opting to sleep either inside the empty building or on a covered outdoor terrace, or for most: a combination of both!