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Head’s House Sleepout for Clocktower Sanctuary
On a cold evening at Lancing College, members of the Lower Sixth and Mrs Kaye, the Housemistress of Head’s House, took part in an overnight charity sleepout in support of the Clocktower Sanctuary, a local charity working to support young people experiencing homelessness. The event aimed to raise both funds and awareness, and thanks to the generosity of all those who donated, we raised an impressive £1,500.
The sleepout began at 6:00 pm, when we were “evicted” from Head’s House, armed only with sleeping bags, bivvy bags, roll mats, and a few cardboard boxes. We made our way down to the cloisters beneath the Chapel, which would be our home for the night. The first task was to set up our sleeping area, which involved laying out roll mats, arranging cardboard to block the wind, and doing what we could to make a hard stone floor slightly more bearable.
Once settled, we headed to the area outside the Dining Hall with QR codes to encourage donations. Speaking to people as they passed by gave us a real sense of how willing the community was to support the cause, and it was heartening to see so many people stop, ask questions, and contribute. Afterwards, we returned to the cloisters, where we shared soup together and spent some time talking as a group.
At around 8:30 pm, we went back out again, this time spreading out around the café and nearby areas with signs to raise further awareness and donations. Despite the cold, many people turned up and donated.
Later in the evening, we returned to the Cloisters and, before going to sleep, we gathered for a prayer, taking a moment to think about those The Clocktower Sanctuary supports. We also stood looking out towards the lights of Brighton, reflecting on the contrast between our experience and the reality faced by people who are homeless. What was, for us, a single night of discomfort is for many a daily and long-term struggle.
After an unrestful night, we woke up to the sunrise over the hill, each and every one of us tired and looking forward to a nice hot shower and breakfast, which many don’t receive without the kindness of communities like that of the Clock Tower Sanctuary.
Written by Tom M and Yoon K