Latest news with #GreatTommySleepOut
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Five to brave a night sleeping outside to raise funds for homeless veterans
FIVE members of The Hart of Martin committee are challenging themselves to a sleep out to raise funds to help homeless veterans. Led by Paul Robinson, 76, the team will sleep outside the front of the Hart of Martin with no tents, and just sleeping bags. The challenge comes as part of 'The Great Tommy Sleep Out', organised by the Royal British Leigion, encouraging people to 'sleep beneath the stars' to fundraise for veterans across the UK. Data shared by the government in January showed that one in 400 veterans were homeless, rough sleeping or living in a refuge for domestic abuse in 2022 alone. READ MORE: The team will sleep out from 9pm to 9am and you can donate here. Paul Robinson (chairman), Janet Richards, Graham Elford, Barry Collier (Image: Hart of Martin) The Great Tommy Sleep Out website says: 'The challenge doesn't replicate rough sleeping, but it does give you an idea of the situation far too many of the nation's heroes find themselves in'. Paul said: 'My father fought in the first World War when he was 16, and he was a sergeant by the time he was 17. 'It's quite important - I think the fact our lads who have fought in Afghanistan end up on the street - it's just not right to me.'
BBC News
27-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Kent business leaders to sleep in replica trenches for charity
A Kent-based veterans' charity is set to host a sleep-out for business leaders in replica World War One trenches. The Great Tommy Sleep Out supports Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) work with homeless Thursday, as part of the UK-wide event, the sixth annual Chairman's Sleep Out will host more than 80 senior managers from major businesses for the first time in specially-constructed trenches at Detling Showground. A RBLI spokesperson said they will "spend a night under the stars in support of those who have served their country but who later in life can find themselves without a home". The Great Tommy Sleep Out raised £1.2m in 2024 and won Fundraising Campaign of the Year at the Third Sector said it was encouraging "more people than ever" to take part in 2025 and hopes this year's event will be its "biggest and best yet".The charity said it was targeting a figure of £80,000 from the trenches event in Kent alone. Steve Rowbotham, RBLI chairperson, said: "The Great Tommy Sleep Out is a time when we send a message of unity to those who have served our nation. "We hope to raise awareness of the serious national issue of veteran homelessness, and play our part in giving something back."RBLI's wide range of services includes providing housing, welfare and employment support for Armed Forces veterans.
BBC News
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Uttoxeter boy set for month-long sleep out for homeless veterans
A teenage boy is camping outside for a month for the second time to raise money for homeless years ago, Jacob, from Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, endured 31 nights of below-freezing temperatures and high winds in a tent set up in his parents' back received support and donations from across the world, as far as Australia, and raised more than £2,500 for the Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) 14-year-old, whose parents were in the army, told BBC Radio Stoke he was hoping to smash that total this year, having started the month-long challenge again on 1 March. "When I found out that there were more than 800 homeless veterans in the UK, I wanted to do something about it," he said."I find it quite fun to be honest. Sometimes when you wake up, it's hard to get back to sleep because you hear an owl or something." He said the nights had not been too bad and he was feeling "really happy" with how the challenge had gone, so far raising more than £ teenager said the tent was set up near his home's conservatory, equipped with a sleeping mat, camping pillow, sleeping bag, a blanket and sometimes a hot water bottle."I have to move the tent every couple of nights because the grass would die and my mum wouldn't be very happy about it," he added. 'He's focused' His dad Ben said he was really proud, adding that the last time he did the challenge was "absolutely brutal for him"."He's focused – if he's got something in his head, he's dedicated so he'll do it and see it through to the end," he if he was tempted to do it with Jacob, Ben said: "No, I've had my fair share of camping out thank you."Jacob's challenge is part of the RBLI's Great Tommy Sleep Out, aimed at raising money and awareness to support veterans experiencing homelessness. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Boy set for sleep-out in aid of homeless veterans
A teenage boy is camping outside for a month for the second time to raise money for homeless veterans. Two years ago, Jacob, from Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, endured 31 nights of below-freezing temperatures and high winds in a tent set up in his parents' back garden. He received support and donations from across the world, as far as Australia, and raised more than £2,500 for the Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) charity. The 14-year-old, whose parents were in the army, told BBC Radio Stoke he was hoping to smash that total this year, having started the month-long challenge again on 1 March. "When I found out that there were more than 800 homeless veterans in the UK, I wanted to do something about it," he said. "I find it quite fun to be honest. Sometimes when you wake up, it's hard to get back to sleep because you hear an owl or something." He said the nights had not been too bad and he was feeling "really happy" with how the challenge had gone, so far raising more than £500. The teenager said the tent was set up near his home's conservatory, equipped with a sleeping mat, camping pillow, sleeping bag, a blanket and sometimes a hot water bottle. "I have to move the tent every couple of nights because the grass would die and my mum wouldn't be very happy about it," he added. His dad Ben said he was really proud, adding that the last time he did the challenge was "absolutely brutal for him". "He's focused – if he's got something in his head, he's dedicated so he'll do it and see it through to the end," he said. Asked if he was tempted to do it with Jacob, Ben said: "No, I've had my fair share of camping out thank you." Jacob's challenge is part of the RBLI's Great Tommy Sleep Out, aimed at raising money and awareness to support veterans experiencing homelessness. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Hospital staff to sleep out in aid of veterans Sleep-out makes £17,000 for homeless charity Firefighter sleeps rough for a month for veterans Sleep-out raises £14.5k for homeless charity Royal British Legion Industries
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
West Craven veterans to brave the cold in fundraising sleep-out
A GROUP of forces veterans will be joined by two Pendle councillors for a sleep out in Barnoldswick to raise awareness of the issue of veteran homelessness. Pendle Council's Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Kevin Salter, and Earby and Coates Councillor David Hartley – who are both ex-forces veterans - will be joining other ex-forces veterans from the Barnoldswick and Earby area as they swap their beds for sleeping bags for the night. The Great Tommy Sleep Out will take place on the green opposite the war memorial in Barnoldswick on Saturday March 29 to raise money for The Royal British Legion Industries and draw attention to the fact that an estimated 6,000 veterans are currently homeless in the UK. Mark Dunstan, a member of The West Craven Veterans Group and a committee member of The Barnoldswick and District Royal British Legion, said: 'We are coming together to support each other as members of the veterans group; to put ourselves at a little discomfort for one night to support fellow veterans who are less fortunate than us and are often sleeping outside without a choice. 'The Great Tommy Sleep Out is an annual, national event. We took part for the first time last year and vowed to make it an annual event.' Cllr Salter, added: 'This is a fundraising challenge designed to support ex-service personnel who find themselves without a roof over their head. 'The event is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by servicemen and women who find themselves without a home when they return to civilian life. 'The money raised will help to pay for emergency accommodation, welfare and healthcare support, employment training and work experience to help vulnerable veterans on the road to independence after leaving the Armed Forces.' To sponsor the West Craven veterans, visit:
