YMCA have their annual sleepout challenge. Staff and people at the YMCA sleep out in the courtyard of the YMCA to raise awareness of the amount of young people who sleep rough.

Residents sleep rough as part of Romford YMCA’s Sleep Easy challenge

Lee-Ann Richards, Reporter Monday, March 4, 2013
4:00 PM

Kind-hearted residents gave up their beds for the night to raise awareness of homelessness.

About 15 people took part in this year’s YMCA Sleep Easy challenge in Rush Green Road, Romford last Friday, raising £2,000 for charity.

Nicki Sedin, the director of marketing at YMCA, who also slept rough for the night said: “It was freezing.

“I had about three layers of clothes on and I was still cold.

“I managed to get some sleep, but then it started raining and there was no where to escape it so it gave us a real insight into what homeless people have to go through.”

The annual event, which raises money for the YMCA’s homeless project, saw volunteers swapping their beds for cardboard boxes and sleeping under the stars.

The night started at 7pm and went right through to 7am the next day.

Nicki said: “It was lovely that people gave up their time to sleep out when it was so cold.

“We had a young girl who turned up from Stratford and got the train to us carrying her sleeping bag and everything that she needed.

“It was really heart warming.”

The money raised will help the YMCA to continue to provide shelter for young people who are homeless.

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