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Cold, wet and windy weather didn't stop more than 100 islanders from taking part in the Sanctuary Trust's annual Sleep Out at Pier Road car park on Friday night to help the charity support the island's homeless.
Around 120 people abandoned the comfort of their homes for the night, raising vital funds to help the Trust provide accommodation and support to men with a range of issues, including homelessness and addiction.
Now in its sixth iteration, the annual fundraiser has this year raised £23,800, with donations continuing to come in.
The oldest participant on Friday night was 75-years-old, while the youngest was six.
Sanctuary Trust chair Tim Ringsdore, who is no stranger to rough sleeping challenges having also organised his own fundraisers, said: "It was so good to see such a diverse amount of people supporting the Sanctuary Trust annual Sleep Out at Pier Road car park on Friday night."
Pictured: Sanctuary Trust chair Tim Ringsdore.
Mr Ringsdore continued: "We really are so grateful to our main sponsor Jersey Mutual and to everyone else who supported us in making this such a memorable evening.
"This was not just about raising money but also to raise awareness of what it would be like to be homeless just for one night, given how cold it was everyone appreciated the hardship this can cause."
Mr Ringsdore added that all of the funds raised will go towards the charity's running costs "to ensure our team can continue providing the diverse range of support our residents require".
"Our vision is to tackle homelessness in our community and this event certainly helps this aim and we really appreciate the generosity from everyone who supports us.
"I’d like to pay tribute to all our team for organising the event and their continued commitment and professionalism in everything they do for the island."
Pictured: More than 100 people abandoned the comfort of their homes for a night.
A group of young islanders from the Jersey Youth Service also took part, as well as teams from JT Global, Specsavers, Andium Homes and representatives from financial services organisations – including sponsors Jersey Mutual and a team from Standard Bank.
Jersey's Housing Minister, Deputy Sam Mézec, and Director of Local Services, Paul McGinnety, also attended.
Volunteers and Sanctuary Trust staff ran a soup kitchen with the support of Highlands College and Fungi Delecti, while Cooper & Co provided breakfast rolls, teas and coffees.
This year also saw Vini Jones, from the Grace Trust, play another acoustic set – including a song he wrote for Sanctuary Trust.
Sarah Tumelty, the Sanctuary Trust’s general manager, described the atmosphere on Friday night as "special".
She said: "Despite the cold and windy weather, so many people came together in solidarity, which was inspiring to see.
"For those who participated, returning to a warm bed in the morning was a certainty – and that stark contrast is what makes this fundraiser so impactful."
Pictured: Sarah Tumelty, the Sanctuary Trust’s general manager.
She continued: "It makes you stop and reflect on how challenging life would be without that option.
"We were thrilled to have some of our current and former residents join us – they’re strong advocates for this event and the cause it supports.
"Looking ahead, we’re excited about Tim Ringsdore’s ambitious personal challenge next year, where he will spend a week sleeping out.
"This effort will raise awareness and highlight the critical need for support and compassion for those experiencing homelessness in our community."
The charity has thanked a number of people and businesses that made the event a success: "Highlands College and Fungi Delecti for the soup, Arron Cheetham at Cube for creating the branding and artwork, JMD Secure for providing overnight security, Justin at Marquee Solutions for the cabling, Island Fire for the fire extinguishers, Bob Mauger for the wheelie bin, First Class Catering and St Brelade’s Parish Hall for the urns, Cooper & Co for the breakfast, Parking Control for use of the car park, Ben Davies and Jo Ferbrache at Factory and Gallery Magazine, Ruben Abreu for the videography, Vini Jones for the acoustic set, as well as all our staff, trustees, volunteers, and everyone who donated.”
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