St Vincent's Southend-On-Sea Community Support Project (CSP) has raised an incredible £15,000 after hosting a sponsored sleep-out as part of their ongoing commitment to supporting vulnerable people.
Around 40 SVP volunteers, local business owners and their families took part in the sleep-out at the Brook Road Industrial Estate in Rayleigh, raising vital funds for projects being delivered at the St Vincent’s Southend.
As well as braving the elements and raising money and awareness, participants enjoyed an evening of music and food around a campfire at the event which was hosted in partnership with Liberty Hygiene Services.
And as St Vincent’s Southend Centre Manager Daniel Cauchi explains, the event was about much more than raising money, it was about showing compassion and providing hope to those who need it most.
He said: “We need the resources to run our wellbeing programme, addiction programme, food bank, clothing bank and our allotment.
“It’s so important to keep people busy while they’re recovering from addiction. The allotment grows food for our commercial kitchen, where we cook meals for more than 90 people a night at the centre.
“Sleeping out for one night is nothing compared to what people tell me. I hear terrible stories over and over again from people who are facing homelessness.
“It’s about empathy. Any little things that we can do to gain an understanding of how people struggle is helpful. Celebrations like these offer hope, and hope is what we give to those we help.”
Owner and director of Liberty Hygiene Services, Scott Marshall, was one of those who took part in the event and is a huge supporter of St Vincent’s Southend after volunteering in the kindness kitchen.
He said: “I started volunteering to ease my stress levels. Seeing people in much worse situations than me was a huge wake-up call. Now I do anything I can to help St Vincent’s Southend.”
St Vincent’s Southend offers a friendly, non-judgemental and unique “wrap around” service tailored to the needs of the individual. The centre also provides food bank services, hot meals, outreach support, homelessness support, household items and clothing, counselling, dementia support and a befriending service.
Please visit https://svp.org.uk/st-vincents-southend for further information on the centre.