Mayor to join charity sleepout
The Mayor of St Albans is to experience life as a rough sleeper to help raise money for local charities that work to reduce homelessness.
Councillor Janet Smith will join the annual St Albans Sleepout at Oaklands College, Smallford, on Friday 6 December.
She will join other fund-raisers who will sleep out in the cold from 9pm until 7am the following day.
The sleepout is organised by Herts Young Homeless, Open Door, Centre 33, Emmaus and The Living Room.
It has been running for more than 20 years and has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds while increasing awareness of the challenges faced by those without settled housing.
The Mayor has pledged to donate any funds that she raises through sponsorship to Open Door, a night shelter and drop-in service for vulnerable people based at Bricket Road.
The charity also funds an outreach worker who supports those sleeping rough in the District.
Cllr Smith said:
I’m proud to be taking part in the sleepout and supporting such a good and valuable cause.
I’m hoping the event will highlight the plight of people who will be living on our streets this winter as well as raise money for the local charities which are trying to help them.
As Mayor, I want to reach out to everyone in our community and I’m sure this event will give me an insight into the lives of homeless people and the challenging living conditions that they endure.
Kerry Pollard, Chair of Open Door, said
Our vision is to make sure no one needs to sleep rough in St Albans.
The sleepout is our major fundraising event and we are still looking for fundraisers to sleep out on the night or to sponsor those taking part.
Anyone wishing to sponsor the Mayor can do so via Virgin Giving at bit.ly/2XxJKKb.
If you would like to take part, as an individual or a group, you can register online at www.stalbanssleepout.org.uk.
This website includes links to the local charities with details about their work and how you can make a donation.
Contact for the Mayor’s office:
Alison Orde,
the Mayor’s Civic Officer
Tel: 01727 81954
Email: mayoralty@stalbans.gov.uk.
Media contact:
John McJannet,
Principal Communications Officer,
St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727-819533
Email: john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.