SLEEP EASY

On Saturday 30th January 2010 I took part in the Sleep

Easy event in central Kingston. The event was organised by

Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness (KCAH) and

Kingston & Wimbledon YMCA.

The event was a sponsored sleep-out to help raise funds to fight

homelessness in the borough of Kingston. The cause is a very

good one. As Conservative housing spokesman I have come

across many instances where people have become homeless

through no fault of their own. It comes as a surprise to many

people that the Council offers very little help to homeless people

who are not classed as a priority. They are often just sent to

charities like the KCAH who help as much as they can. This

can sometimes just mean that they provide a sleeping bag due

to lack of available beds in shelters, although they always try

to do more than that.

I am often as cynical as anyone about this type of event. I

certainly don't believe that by sleeping out for one night (from

6pm to 6am) I had the same experience as someone who

is truly homeless. However, it did give me just a small idea of

the problems that the homeless have to put up with and of

course raised much needed money. As the advert says: 'Sleep rough so others don't have to'.

I am of course looking for sponsors for the sleep-out and it's not too late to donate. Please go to my sponsorship homepage to donate by card.

Alternatively, you can send cheques if you would like to sponsor me the old fashioned way, please send your cheque, made payable to 'YMCA LSW', to my address on the home page.

I'd like to thank all those who have sponsered me so far and congratulate the organisers who made sure that we were very well looked after. I understand that they expect to have made approximately £15,000 by the time all of the money is collected.