Sleep Out 2024

"It helped me understand what it must feel like to be homeless"

On 6th December 2024, a good number of us gathered at 8pm at St. Peter’s Barge on West India Quay for our annual Sleep Out under the bright lights of Canary Wharf.  The event drew in a wide range of people, including some who had friends who were homeless and others who were part of a local youth club, as well as some newbies, seasoned veterans and staff.  Whereas the previous year had been especially cold, this one was promising to be remembered by Storm Darragh, which was blowing in at some pace!  
 
The evening started with us all making our cardboard box beds, with a fantastic assortment of designs.  Some were opting for the more basic approach, which was likely to recreate the realities of being on the street, whereas others came determined not to get to wet, with one “DeLorean” style on display!  After setting up camp, we sat for a delicious chilli casserole, after which some of the former guests, who had previously been homeless, volunteered to share their stories.  One guest spoke movingly about the great toll on their mental health that a prolonged experience of being street homeless had caused him, with the realities of huge sleep deprivation.  Another shared how he had been in rehab, dealing with alcohol addiction, before slipping up and ending up homeless.  The stories were moving for everyone. 
 
Afterwards, we had time to chat but it wasn’t long before it was time to test our boxes against the elements and get some sleep.  We were grateful too for our security representative, who provided a luxury that regular homeless people can’t afford.  As we drifted off to sleep, the rain and winds started to blow up.  As Storm Darragh took a hold of Canary Wharf, we were awoken about 5.45am by the GrowTH Director, saying that it was no longer safe to stay outside.  We moved back indoors into the comforts of St. Peter’s Barge, where some people managed to get back to sleep again before morning.  At last it was time for breakfast, and a coffee and bacon (or vegetarian sausage) sandwich was waiting for the sleepy-eyed campers.  It was an enjoyable but reality-checking experience, and we were glad to be able to raise some fantastic funds for the homeless cause.  

It’s quickly approaching that most wonderful time of the year again…no, nothing to do with Santa…it’s the annual GrowTH Sleep Out 2024! 

For many years now, GrowTH have organised our major fundraising event of the year in the form of a Sleep Out – where supporters, volunteers, and staff brave the cold December temperatures and sleep under the stars for one night only, to raise money for the work of GrowTH in running our winter Night Shelter, homeless Day Centre, and Housing project. 

This year’s event is once more being wonderfully hosted London’s only floating Church – St Peter’s Barge, who are one of our partner churches, and who are spectacularly located on the West India Quay, just a stone’s throw from Canary Wharf. 

 

Please refer to the FAQs for a more in depth rundown of the timetable for the event, but participants will gather together at St Peter’s Barge, assemble their ‘bed’ for the night using pre-collected cardboard, share a simple meal together, and hear from some of our ex-Guests and Residents as they share their real-life experiences of homelessness. Then we will bed down for the night on the Quay, where hopefully some sleep will be had. In the morning we come back together to eat breakfast and reflect on our experiences overnight. The event is in no way supposed to simulate real homelessness, but it is incredibly profound hearing from those who were previously homeless, and helps those participating to gain some empathy for the day-to-day struggles of those who are homeless, and who GrowTH seek to support and accommodate. 

Last year event was a roaring success, with 28 participants in total, and raising a phenomenal £19,138 towards GrowTH’s vital work. We are partnering with the Big Give campaign again this year, which means that donations made between 3rd December – 10th December are DOUBLED! You can check out the link to our Big Give campaign, and donate via the link below (only able to donate between those dates above)

If you would like to participate in this year’s Sleep Out, please visit the link below, and sign up. Once you have registered, there is information about how to go about getting sponsored and raising supporters for your sleep out effort. Click below if you, or a group of you and your friends are interested.

We also have an FAQ page which will hopefully answer any questions that you have about the event. But if you have any further questions or queries, please contact office@thisisgrowth.org.

Please see below some quotes and reflections of those who have participated in years gone by.

Timetable for the evening

8pm: Arrive, sign in and meet your fellow participants!

8-8:45pm: Make your cardboard beds

8:45-9:15pm: Share a simple meal outside

9:15-10pm: Hear stories from previous GrowTH guests

10pm: Bed down and catch some winks!

Sign Up
Big Give Campaign
Sleep Out FAQ

2022 Sleep Out: A Reflection

On Friday 2nd December, volunteers and staff (28 in total) slept outside for one night, on the West India Quay, towered over by the imposing buildings and bright lights of Canary Wharf.

It was a bitterly cold night, although we were thankful that the rain held off. Cardboard beds offered a minimal level of protection, although the wind sweeping over the quay was difficult to hide from.

We had gathered on St Peter’s Barge, a partner church of GrowTH, to make our cardboard beds, receive instructions for the night and encourage each other for what was to come. Fast forward to 9pm and the home cooked chilli was served outside, in cardboard containers.

Three previous guests of GrowTH bravely offered to come and share their real life experiences of being street homeless.  This was a time of humbling insight into the challenges of being homeless. It is so, so helpful to hear a different perspective, on an issue that confronts most of us every day. It is difficult to walk through London without seeing someone suffering from street homelessness.

One participant shared, “It was brilliant to hear stories from people who’ve accessed GrowTH…” with many others agreeing that their empathy towards those on the streets has increased.

A quiet but cold night ensued, with participants waking at all hours to enter the barge for a little respite, encouragement or cup of tea. For many, the 7.30am wake up call couldn’t come soon enough and the bacon baps were gratefully wolfed down.

It was time for reflections, and feedback. Here is a selection of the comments:

The real life experiences that were shared were incredibly powerful.
If it were for real, I'd be terrified!
The experience has enabled me to better empathise.
This morning, I am full of gratitude!