Rough assignment: Volunteers to sleep in youth hostel car park to raise cash for YMCA housing project

Rough assignment: Volunteers to sleep in youth hostel car park to raise cash for YMCA housing project

6:30pm Friday 28th February 2014 in News By David Trayner

VOLUNTEERS are set to brave the cold when they sleep rough tomorrow night to help keep young people off the streets.

At least 90 people, including staff from Leigh Waitrose, construction firm HW Wilson, mental health charity the Richmond Fellowship, Southend Council and South Essex Homes, will raise money for Southend YMCA by sleeping in the charitys car park, in Ambleside Drive.

Two Echo reporters David Trayner and Philip Jones will join the fundraising event.

Organiser Tom Moulton said: We are really touched with how many people are supporting us.

We may even have 100 people sleeping rough. Thats the number we wanted to reach.

Its going to be interesting how we all squeeze into the car park!

Participants, who can bring a sleeping bag and bedding, will be given cardboard boxes to build a shelter to protect them as they bed down on the tarmac for the night.

Gazebos will provide cover as rain is forecast, but volunteers will be expected to brave the wind and cold.

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Rough assignment: Volunteers to sleep in youth hostel car park to raise cash for YMCA housing project