Julian House calls on public to Sleep-Out at home as COVID forces change to the ‘Big Basingstoke Sleep-Out’

After the disappointing postponement of Julian House’s Big Basingstoke Sleep-Out 2019, due to the first national lockdown for Covid-19 in March last year, the charity will be running this year’s Big Sleep-Out as an at home event. 

The charity is now calling on families and households across Basingstoke and the local area to join and sleep-out for one night in their own garden on Friday 5th March to help raise vital funds and awareness for men and women forced to sleep out every night. 

The event, which should have been held at the War Memorial Park, has had to change and adapt due to the national lockdown announcement and rising COVID cases. However, the At Home Sleep-Out carries the same important message. 

The national lockdown evokes further feelings of isolation and desolation for most men and women in Julian House’s services. On top of this, the plunging winter temperatures have now become a threat to their lives.

By choosing to sleep out on Friday 5th March and raising vital funds, families, friends and colleagues you can help provide the life-saving services and support men and women experiencing homelessness so desperately need right now.

It’s a grim realisation that without support like Julian House, the life expectancy of a long-term homeless person is just 44 years! 

Event organiser, Rachel Avent, said: “The fact that the Sleep-Out is at home this year, provides a greater stark contrast to the dangers men and women living on the streets must face – especially during this on-going pandemic. 

People taking part in the Big Basingstoke Sleep-Out: At Home may be cold and a little wet. However, the next morning people can go indoors, have a warm bath, a cooked breakfast, chat to family and friends about their experience or just catch up on lost sleep. The big difference for people who are forced to sleep rough is that they don’t have that option.

This year, the Sleep-Out maybe a little different. But while we can’t be together in person, we can virtually. That’s why we will be hosting an optional series of live streamed events on the night so we can be together and share our own ‘sleep-out’ experience with each other.”

Households without access to a garden are encouraged to join by sleeping out on a secure balcony or on their living room, porch, kitchen or bathroom floor. 

Rachel added: “Or think out of the box and sleep in your bathtub! Anywhere a little unexpected and a little un-comfy works.”

To find out more about the Big Bath Sleep-Out: At Home and to sign up visit: The Big Basingstoke Sleep-Out website or sign up at Eventbrite email Rachel Avent bigbasingstokesleepout@julianhouse.org.uk