A TONBRIDGE charity is seeking volunteers to spend a night sleeping rough in order to help provide accommodation and support for the homeless.
The Bridge Trust, based in Quarry Hill Road, is holding its Sleep Out event in the grounds of Tonbridge School on the night of Saturday March 14. There will also be music and other entertainment as well as soup and hot drinks and a tuck shop. General manager John Handley told the Kent and Sussex Courier it is the charity’s “landmark event”. “It is a fundraising event but it’s also to raise awareness of the homeless problem,” he said. “People tend to forget that just because they don’t see homeless people sleeping in bus shelters every night there isn’t a problem.” He added there were the “invisible” homeless who slept in cars, hostels and on friends’ couches.
“The event brings to everyone’s attention that actually there is a problem in this area despite the affluence,” said Mr Handley, “and gives a taste of what it’s like to spend a night sleeping out.”