‘The worst night’s sleep I’ve ever had’ - SNJ reporter Jamie Wiseman joins fundraisers for sponsored sleep out in Stroud

The issue is one that goes largely under the radar, yet it is something that affects many young and vulnerable people.

Two organisations fighting this constant and circular battle are the Christian charity Marah and OPENhouse.

They work with dozens of young people in Stroud and across Gloucestershire, and spend a lot of time and effort raising awareness about the problem.

This was the idea behind the Rough Traders Sleep Out in Stroud on Thursday night – which saw people brave the cold autumn conditions spend the night on the streets outside St Lawrence’s Church.

To get a better idea of the difficulties of spending a night sleeping rough, I joined the party of around 30 volunteers and fundraisers.

Meeting in the church at around 10pm, I spoke to a couple of the event’s organisers, Claire Mould, from OPENhouse and Paul Summersby from Marah.

Over a cup of hot butternut squash soup and a bread roll in the church, Claire explained the magnitude of the issue in Stroud.

“For homeless people sleeping rough is only half the story - trying to operate as a fully functioning member of the community when you are sleeping rough is a real challenge,” she said.

“How would you feel if you had to go about your normal daily business having not slept in a bed, not had access to a shower, and other home comforts such as clean clothes, a hot drink or breakfast?

“The challenge is to see how well you function in work the next day, but also how people perceive you.”

Dozens of young people have to actually go through this challenge daily.

While they most home people aged 16-18, OPENhouse are currently providing shelter for people aged 14-40.

Currently they own four properties, which can provide shelter for up to 60 homeless people and those with complex learning difficulties.

“But this just isn’t enough space”, Claire explains.

“All of our properties in Stroud are full every day of the week, we just can’t fit everyone in.”

“There is a hidden homelessness problem here in Stroud, added Paul, who is also part of the street pastors team in the town.

“There is the obvious kind of people sleeping rough on the street, but then there are those who stay at friends’ or sofa surf all the time.

“These issues have always existed and continue to exist under the surface of society.

“It’s a problem many wouldn’t expect places like Stroud to have,” he admitted.

“Stroud is an amazingly caring community and always organises to help those in need, but as this issue exists under the radar most people don’t know how to help.

“That’s why the sleep out is as much about raising awareness as it is about raising money.”

As the clock struck 11pm we had a quick talk about the sleeping arrangements and then headed out into the cold.

Participants had only plastic sheets, cardboard boxes and a sleeping bag to keep them warm as temperatures dropped to 8°C.

We all took up spots across the churchyard and street, with some opting for the grass and others for the concrete.

For precautions there were two wardens who patrolled the area all night to make sure everybody was safe.

I took up a little spot on the stone and set up as comfortably as possible.

Everyone around me was taking part in the sponsored challenge to raise money for the two charities.

People came from all walks of life. I spoke to everyone from lawyers and students to youth workers and businesswomen. Ages ranged from 16 to 60.

Many of them, I discovered, had been, or at least knew someone who had been homeless at some point during their life.

Josh Osborn, 23, was one of those taking part who currently lives in one of OPENhouse’s properties called Delmont’s Lot.

He was taking part for one of his friends who is currently sleeping rough in Cheltenham, and is one of those who knows first-hand what amazing work the two organisations do.

A party of 15 or so students were also among those huddled up in little groups on the grass.

First-time rough sleepers Isobel Parmhan-Hope and Ruby Gardner, both 16, explained they were all from Pate’s Grammar School in Cheltenham, and were part of the Amnesty International group.

The pair remained positively optimistic about the prospect of a full day of sixth form and exam preparation in the morning.

As the clock struck midnight and the chatter fizzled out I settled down for the night.

Whatever my expectations were beforehand they were soon shattered. The experience was a lot harder than I ever thought it would be.

The cold sets in quickly and however much you toss and turn there never seems to be a comfortable position to sleep in.

Constant noises throughout the night made sleep almost impossible. I think all in all I must have had around an hours sleep, and even that was hazy and disjointed.

On top of that, delivery vans and construction workers began arriving at around 5am, which then made any hope of sleep impossible.

As the dawn chorus started, one by one the sleepers began to rise and stretch off the aches and pains.

Feeling uncomfortable and completely disorientated, at 6.30am I was rewarded with a hot cup of coffee from the church.

The experience was both challenging and enlightening. It was one of the worst night’s sleep I’ve ever had but it did allow a huge levels of empathy with those who have to go through the ordeal daily.

Going into work and having to function the next morning was a struggle alone, I can’t imagine how it must be to go through this every day.

The work these two charities do in Stroud is fantastic. Homelessness is obviously an issue that goes under the radar in the area.

Despite already owning four properties, OPENhouse are in dire need of more support to provide shelter for young and vulnerable people in Stroud.

It crucial people are aware this is still an issue in the town - one that lies silently beneath the surface.

A roof over people’s head is the first step to providing a safe community where people can live, relate, learn, work, get support and find their next step in life.

For more information on the OPENhouse and Marah do please visit: www.roughtraders.org.uk/

• You can donate directly to Rough Traders via Givey at www.givey.com/c/243e2fae

(All pictures by Rob Evans)