There were people sleeping in baths, on trampolines, in sheds and cardboard shelters! We would like to thank everyone that took part in our first ever ‘Little Big Sleep Out at Home’ and we hope you all had as much fun as we did!
So far we have raised an amazing £13,372 and the donations are still coming in! We are truly grateful for all of your support to help raise awareness and vital funds for homeless and vulnerable people across West Sussex. The campaign is still running and you can still donate here.
Our clients created a thank you video especially for the event to express their gratitude to everyone that has helped keep them safe and secure during the coronavirus pandemic. Click here to see it.
BBC South Today featured our event on the news on Sunday evening…take a look!
We have received lots of photos and messages from people that took part in the Little Big Sleep Out this year. If you would like your photograph and message to be included on this page please send them to fundraising@stonepillow.org.uk
Take a look at some of the highlights of the event below!
“Not Bob but my very own Street cat named William. I was never alone. I hope those in need get more help in future and thanks to your kind and generous donations Stonepillow will be there to help. Thank you” Gabby
“We really enjoyed sleeping in our den because we knew it was helping people who didn’t have a home to sleep in. We really want to raise lots of money for them!” Buddy (aged 9) Dexi (aged 5)
“It was great for the kids to be involved in such a worthwhile cause, although they retreated to their beds at 11pm leaving me to get a peaceful night’s sleep!”
“The experience was so enjoyable we thought we’d love to do it again. However, we all agreed that our night under the stars hadn’t come close to the challenges that our brave clients at Stonepillow have faced when they’ve been out on the streets. We hope that the generosity of the community in time and donations of food and funds continues so that Stonepillow can continue to endeavour to meet the needs of the people who are homeless in our community. A big thank you to all the staff who put this event on.” Jo and family
“Team Bosham brought together over 40 families in the village who camped out or in for the night. We loved being able to do something as a community and are delighted with the money raised for Stonepillow who do such amazing work for vulnerable people in west Sussex. Some of our team are still camping out 3 days later!” Debbie and Team Bosham
“We slept in a little gazebo in our garden. It was certainly much more comfortable than it would have been sleeping in a cardboard box on the Bognor Regis football field! We could not do that! At 6am a large clumsy bird landed on the metal roof and slid off waking me! The moment to make tea I thought. I would like to thank all our friends and neighbours and family for so kindly donating to such a good cause. They should be congratulated more than us.” Ian & Jackie
“Our house’ ended up much bigger than we planned thanks to our neighbours having a shed delivered!” Sarah
“As we were still isolating, but being fortunate enough to have one of the local Benefice’s ancient churches in the grounds, it seemed that this would be an ideal location to use as a sleepout site. With the help of a neighbour I managed to create a donation page within the Just Giving website which I promoted via my various connections. The night’s sleepout was mercifully frost free, and I had the company of my partner who kept watch over me.” Margaret
Charlie and Emily Stewart slept out on the trampoline near the beach in Felpham. “I felt like I was on a real adventure . The stars were incredible and I saw a saw a star shooting across the sky. I wasn’t scared and I’ll definitely do it again to raise awareness of Stonepillow.” Emily
“It was warm to begin with but by 5.30am I was really uncomfortable and decided to go into the house to my own bed which was so comfy. It made me appreciate that I had somewhere to go which so many other homeless people don’t have.” Charlie