Peterborough recruitment firm staff join overnight charity sleepout

The ‘Sleep Out’ event was held at Northampton Saint’s Rugby Ground where hundreds slept in low temperatures on January 31.

Hollie Church, a Senior Consultant and Head of the Charity Committee said: “It was difficult to sleep but the one thing you think when you close your eyes is if you’re in a non-guarded area anything you could happen to you, which was a scary thought.”

The group managed to complete the night, but it left them with minor health problems such as coughs, colds, dry skin and exhaustion. Hollie said: “From one day being out in the cold there are people who are full of cold and dry skin and you think to yourself ‘what a life these people have on the streets’.

Martin Elcock, IT Manager, noticed his watch was tracking his sleep throughout the night and saw he’d only slept for two hours. He said: “Some people didn’t sleep at all. You’re thirsty, then you’re getting up and then you can’t get back to sleep. It isn’t just about the money, it is about raising awareness of the situation.”

The team raised over £1000 from their night sleeping rough and the team have raised around £5000 in the last year.