Select a region
The chair of a homelessness charity is urging islanders to get involved with an annual charity 'Sleep Out' as he nears the end of a rough-sleeping challenge that has seen him spend a night outside a different parish hall each month.
After completing his eleventh charity sleep out on Friday, Tim Ringsdore is urging islanders to sign up for the Sanctuary Trust's main fundraiser taking place at the end of this week.
The Trust's annual 'Sleep Out' event, which sees islanders abandon the comfort of their homes for a night in Pier Road car park, is due to go ahead this Friday.
The event raises vital funds to help the Trust provide accommodation and support to men with a range of issues, including homelessness and addiction.
More than 90 people took part in last year’s Sleep Out, which raised a record-breaking £65,000 for the charity.
View this post on Instagram
Mr Ringsdore completed the penultimate sleep out of his own challenge on Friday, bedding down outside the Town Hall.
He said: “It’s been a very difficult start to the month for many of our community, as the extent of the damage caused by Storm Ciarán continues to be realised.
"Our thoughts are with everyone who has been directly affected, particularly those who have lost their homes. It really has thrown into focus the value we place on our homes."
Pictured: Tim is hoping to raise £12,000 for Sanctuary Trust by sleeping outside each of the 12 parish halls for one night each month.
He continued: "While understandably the recovery is an island-wide priority, we hope that people will still show their support for our fundraiser, to help islanders who, without our services, would be facing homelessness.”
For the first time this year, the charity has made a specific appeal to members of the business community, by calling on senior executives to get involved in the challenge.
Mr Ringsdore added: “As a CEO who has slept rough 11 times already this year as a personal fundraiser for Sanctuary, I can tell my peers that this is one of the more difficult challenges I’ve done.
"But I will always stress that it’s not comparable to being homeless. The Sleep Out is about recognising, not replicating, what it’s like not to have a place to call home. It’s an act of solidarity that helps raise money so we can continue to operate. And this year, more than ever, we need the support."
You can sign up for this year's Sleep Out online HERE.
You can sponsor this year's Sleep Out online HERE.
Listen to the podcast interview about Tim's experience below or search ‘Bailiwick Podcasts’ on your favourite pod provider:
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.