29-03-2025
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.
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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.'
