Member Article

Barratt Homes supports Chichester homeless charity’s BIG Sleep Out

West Sussex housebuilder, Barratt Homes, has shown its support for those who find themselves without somewhere to live with a sponsorship of Stonepillow’s BIG Sleep Out.

The annual event, organised by the Chichester homeless charity, is designed to highlight the harsh realities of rough sleeping. And, as well as providing music and entertainment on the city’s Cathedral green last month, it saw 40 participants ‘sleep out’ in cardboard shelters to raise money for those people who are doing the same day in, day out.

Stonepillow support and empower homeless and vulnerable people, and leading developer, Barratt Homes, was eager to support the event. As well as being a sponsor, Barratt sent over four volunteers to help collect donations and drum up support from the public on the day.

Florence Dudley-Barritt, Community and Events Fundraiser at Stone Pillow, said: “The BIG Sleep Out does not aim to replicate homelessness but to take participants out of their comfort zone and offer a small insight into what it’s like having to sleep on the streets.

“A huge thank you to Barratt Homes for its support. The team of volunteers did a great job to promote our event to the public and its sponsorship will go far in helping restore the lives of those less fortunate in Chichester, Bognor Regis and Arun.”

Barratt Homes are committed to supporting organisations who are looking after people who need it in the local community. Megan Hamlyn, Barratt Homes Marketing Manager, volunteered on the day. She said: “We want to offer our support to those organisations doing great work in the community, and Stonepillow is one of them. The BIG Sleep Out is the perfect way to highlight the work that they do and what the people they are supporting must go through. It’s been a pleasure to help today.”

Crowds of over 200 people gathered to be entertained and learn more about Stonepillow on Saturday 14th October, as the group of 40 sleepers built and decorated their cardboard shelters ready for the night ahead.

Florence added: “The 40 sleepers were incredibly lucky that the storms had passed, but still had to endure temperatures that dropped to three degrees overnight; giving them just a flavour of what a rough sleeper might endure on a daily basis.”

Stonepillow support and empower homeless and vulnerable people to achieve sustainable independence and wellbeing. It offers hubs in Chichester and Bognor Regis for those in need of food, showers, laundry, and support. The charity is wholly dependent on the success of events such as this, grants, and on the support of the local community, to be able to keep these hubs open.

Barratt Homes is dedicated to helping charities and organisations in the local area. It is building new homes across the region.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Barratt Homes .