Stars face bitter cold as they join fundraisers at Centrepoint Sleep Out in support of Homeless Helpline appeal

Matt Watts|Luke Garratt25 November 2016

Stars today called for action to fix London's young homelessness crisis as they joined fundraisers sleeping out in support of the Standard’s Christmas appeal.

Lady Kitty Spencer, actress and fashion designer Sadie Frost, Downton Abbey’s Daisy Lewis, and Made in Chelsea’s Ashley James were among more than 1,000 other people braving bitter cold at Centrepoint’s Sleep Out in south London last night.

Those staying overnight slept in sleeping bags on cardboard in a development site close to the o2 arena to raise money for the charity’s planned new helpline.

The Freephone number and online service will ensure the thousands of young people facing or experiencing homelessness get support they need.

Centrepoint sleep out

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Last night’s Sleep Out, one of 12 similar events nationwide, is expected to raise £450,000 for the Standard’s Young and Homeless Helpline appeal to fund it.

Lady Kitty Spencer, the cousin of Centrepoint patron Prince William, and Lib Dem leader Tim Farron were among those to sleep rough all night.

Ms Frost also attended in the evening and told the Standard: “For too many people the homeless haven't got an identity, they are just a body with a blanket on and a bit of cardboard.

“The other day I came out of a bar around Dover Street and there were a lot of very wealthy people who stepped out and just awkwardly ignore the homeless outside.

“It’s heartbreaking and demoralising when people are just homeless and not even considered. As a society and a country we need to do more.

Sleep Out: Sadie Frost
NIGEL HOWARD

“All Londoners need to support the Standard and Centrepoint’s appeal as it can help save young lives of some of the most vulnerable in our society.”

Ms Lewis, who played schoolteacher Sarah Bunting in Downton Abbey, added: “The housing crisis has made it almost impossible for young people. Everyone needs to step up and have a look at how we can help the next generation.

“I think there are a lot of things that chime with me within the work Centrepoint does.

“I have suffered nothing like the young people they help have suffered, but on my own small scale, anxiety and depression have played a really large part in my life and - in terms of the cycle of homelessness - a lot of it will start with mental health problems or with broke down family situations or addiction.

“But what will then happen is people feel they can’t reach out, they don't have anywhere to go and then it spirals out of control.”

“The Sleep Out is one night, we are all freezing and complaining and this is thousands of people’s reality. I think homelessness happens to real people,” Ashley James said.’

Homeless appeal: The sleep out raised almost half a million pounds
NIGEL HOWARD

“I think it’s too easy for people to decompartmentalise the homeless as just the homeless. But they are mums, daughters, dads, brothers, sons, they are really good people.

“They have been through different traumas and situations found themselves homeless.

“I think the helpline will make a huge difference; if every Londoner gave as little as a pound to the appeal, imagine the difference it could make.”

Those taking part last night slept in marquees on the building site on the Greenwich Peninsula.

They were served dinner, served by the RAF, and read a innuendo-laced Centrepoint fairytale bedtime story by Christopher Biggins before huddling in groups to listen to to DJ sets from Sara Cox.

Participants barely slept on the hard floors as they suffered temperatures which felt close to freezing with brisk winds rolling through the exposed site.

Many taking part were from City and central London firms who support the work Centrepoint does.

Jer O’Mahony, 36, was one of 14 wealth managers from Mayfair-based financial services company Killik and Co, who slept some of the night outside of the marquee, fully exposed to the elements, to experience closer what life is like for the homeless.

He said: “The cold was biting, raw, the wind was beating against us, the ground uncomfortable.

“I never got more than 20 minutes sleep. I can’t believe there are people sleeping like this every night in a great city like London.”

Participants were served food by the RAF
NIGEL HOWARD

Steph Griffiths, 24, slept out with friends and colleagues from interior design firm Accouter Design, based near Oxford Circus.

She said: “I’ve never had a night like it. It was completely freezing, I see young people in doorways near my work and it makes me realise a little more how hard life is for them, and how we need to do more for them.”

Julia Valentine, 31, from business tech advisory firm CEB, took part in her second Sleep Out with a team of fundraisers who also volunteer in Centrepoint shelters, said: “It’s an eye opener. It’s painful, it’s so cold.

“You hurt in the morning from the floor. You are woken constantly by all the bangs and noises, shouting and talking, of whatever is happening nearby.

“It’s obviously nothing close to what homelessness is like but you do feel you can empathise more. It makes you look at homeless people differently and want to do more to help.”

Lib Dem’s Tim Farron called the homelessness crisis “an absolute stain on our country”.

Homeless appeal: Lib Dem leader Tim Farron preparing to sleep out
NIGEL HOWARD

He said: “The overwhelming majority of people out on the streets, it’s not difficult to solve their problems. Many people have more complex needs and we can still meet them.

He called on housing benefit changes and more affordable housing in central London and said: “For young people in particular housing is not available for youngest adults and the fact we are in a city where the gap between what it costs to afford any kind of rent and what minimum and average wages are.

“You need a significant increase in the amount of emergency accommodation.”

Centrepoint: The charity's CEO Seyi Obakin with Sadie Frost (NIGEL HOWARD)
NIGEL HOWARD ©

He backed the helpline appeal saying: “The things that can prevent people ending up homeless are advocacy, support, advice, and signposting services.

“Support from a helpline and giving people options can make an enormous difference to people because it is a desperate thing when you realise tonight is your first night out in the cold.”

Centrepoint chief executive Seyi Obakin added: “With Sleep Out have just a little bit of the experience of what a young person sleeping rough might face.

“It’s really devastating and the trouble with young people who find themselves in this situation is that it takes a toll on your mental wellbeing, you have to do it night after night, and if you have to do it without the safety of a contained environment you are also open to whatever else is going on be it crime, alcohol or drugs or whatever it might be.”

The Evening Standard's Homeless Helpline appeal is raising money for the Centrepoint Helpline, a brand new support service that will save young people from ending up on the streets.

To donate please visit our Just Giving page.

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