The 2024 Big Channing Sleep Out

The 2024 Big Channing Sleep Out took place on Saturday, 5th October, to raise awareness and sponsorship for homelessness. It was a cold night with freezing winds, but that didn’t deter our brave and determined students who slept out on the Junior School MUGA.

Some Year 9 students share their experience below:

Arya B’s Experience

Last weekend, I had the amazing opportunity to participate in the Big Channing Sleep Out with a group of 40 girls from Years 9 and 10. The Sleep Out’s aim was to raise awareness for homelessness and rough sleepers and to help people empathize with them. We arrived at Fairseat at 8 pm on Saturday, organized into groups, and set up our sleeping arrangements using tarps, sleeping bags, sleeping mats, and football goals. Despite the lack of resources, we all worked together and managed to make cozy little tents.

As the night progressed, we had the opportunity to purchase soup for £1, which was a welcome relief as the weather continued to get colder. Throughout the night, we attempted to get some sleep, but the freezing winds made it extremely difficult. The following Sunday morning, after enduring a cold and windy night, I went home feeling that I had gained a deeper understanding of the struggles faced by homeless individuals. This experience showed how used to our privileged lives we are, and that even living a small fraction of a homeless person’s life in controlled and safe conditions was extremely hard, highlighting just how hard their lives are.

Sofia ND, Juliet K, Jolie Q, and Sloane R’s Experience

On Saturday, 5th October, we slept in the Junior School MUGA in sleeping bags to raise awareness for homelessness. We tried to gain a perspective of what sleeping outside without a home would feel like, though we know that this wasn’t at all what it would be like in reality.

We slept rough with minimal resources, bringing a tarp to drape over a football goal to create a shelter. We were only allowed £3 for food and soup provided by the school. We had no access to our phones, except for Miss Lindsay’s emergency phone, and no access to any of the buildings at the Junior School, except for the bathrooms. Even though we could not bring any card games or other forms of entertainment, we managed to make a cozy shelter where we chatted and stayed for the night.

Fortunately, it wasn’t freezing cold or raining heavily, but early in the morning, a cold wind blew into our shelter. Luckily, we had prepared with lots of warm layers. Overall, it was a great learning experience that helped us feel empathy for those who aren’t as fortunate as us, but we also enjoyed ourselves as we were all together.

The Sleep Out, of course, is nothing like the reality of being homeless, but it’s a simple act of solidarity and a tangible way for our students to get involved and raise awareness of such an important issue.

The students are also fundraising both individually and as a group. They would greatly appreciate your support! Every pound counts, and all funds raised will be donated to organizations dedicated to making a meaningful difference in the lives of those in need.

If you would like to support the students, please visit their GoFundMe page to donate:
https://gofund.me/8b0aca0a