A group of teenagers from St Peter’s Shipley slept out in the church car park last week (March 31) to raise awareness of homelessness and to raise money for the charity Shelter.
“This was quite a challenge” said Children’s and Youth Worker Lol Wood, who also slept rough with the group. “We only had cardboard under our sleeping bags. Fortunately the weather was not too bad, and we didn’t have to contend with rain or snow, just the damp and cold”.
The young people were interviewed in church last Sunday about their experience, some talking about having a better understanding of the challenges faced by homeless people. All of them mentioned not expecting to wake up with damp sleeping bags despite there being no rain.
Revd John Rainer, Vicar of St Peter’s, added “We are very grateful to the men of St Peter’s who stayed up all night to patrol the site and make this challenge possible. These young people have raised over £1200 for Shelter though sponsorship and donations as a result.”
The “Risen” group at St Peter’s (14-18’s) have devised a programme of events during 2017 to raise money for several charities chosen by themselves. This was the second of three events which so far have raised just under £2000. A third event, for the charity Bradford Ecumenical Asylum Concern (BEACON) is planned for May.