On the evening of the second Friday in May 2017, Elaine and I took part in the Big Teesside Sleepout, an event organised by the Middlesbrough & Teesside Philanthropic Foundation to raise awareness of (and funds for) homelessness and poverty in the region.
It was going to be a new experience for both of us, so much so that we had to borrow a sleeping bag and purchase a couple of foam mats.
The five-day weather forecast had predicted rain during the night, and sure enough Friday morning was cloudy and relatively cool following a glorious Wednesday and Thursday. However, as the day progressed, the temperature remained fairly mild, and the final forecast we heard suggested that the rain would linger in the west of the country, which was something of a relief.
We were advised to wear plenty of layers, so that’s exactly what we did: we wore thermal vests, jumpers, hoodies and waterproof jackets just in case the forecaster had made a Michael Fish-style blunder. We put on hats, gloves and thermal socks for the old extremities and we were almost ready for the off.
There are actually two sleepouts every year; one in summer, the other towards the end of the year. The later event is apparently much more popular (or perhaps “well-attended” might be a more appropriate phrase), with often three or four times as many participants than the 30 or so that joined us at Middlesbrough College.
When we arrived, we had to sign a disclaimer that said something along the lines of: “You accept you may be injured or even die”. I was fully prepared to go home with a sore back, but to be honest, I felt less inclined to perish in the attempt.
But no matter, we completed the form and set up our double sleeping bag and pillows in the designated area outside the main building.
Much as the event aimed to highlight the hardship faced by the homeless and the poor, we had the luxury of being given a warm meal (soup or jacket potato), hot drinks and access to toilet facilities. What we were about to experience was therefore only a taste of the reality faced by so many on a nightly basis, but I suppose it was important to actually ensure a decent attendance – and help to raise as much as possible towards supporting those most in need.
Thanks to the generosity of friends and family, we had raised £185. The total donated on the night exceeded £5,000, the news of which was a boost as we headed back outside.
I wasn’t expecting to get too much sleep, but after a couple of poor nights during the week, I was certainly tired. I snuggled into the sleeping bag, gloves and hat on, but shoes off, closed my eyes and started to drift. There was a hum of conversation from those around us that was more relaxing than annoying, and I reckon I was probably
asleep by half past ten.
Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t easy to stay comfortable for long periods, and I stirred several times in order to readjust my position – and to remove my hat and gloves.
Would you believe I was too warm?!
I remember thinking each time I woke that, despite a couple of aches and a bit of cramp, this was okay for only one night. It wasn’t even cold or wet. How do people manage when this isn’t just a one-off? If it started to rain … when the temperature dropped …
It’s so easy to take the lives we have for granted.
I woke properly at about five o’clock. The sun was starting to rise, and it was a beautiful morning. Elaine was still fast asleep, but she opened her eyes about half an hour later, having also had a far less difficult night than we’d probably both expected. The event (which was extremely well organised) ended at six o’clock, and people started to drift off back to their respective homes for the weekend.
Within half an hour we were sitting in our living room … and it was basically a normal (albeit early) start to what would hopefully be a normal day. But this time we had a far greater appreciation of the fact that not everybody’s “normal” was the same.
It was going to be a new experience for both of us, so much so that we had to borrow a sleeping bag and purchase a couple of foam mats.
The five-day weather forecast had predicted rain during the night, and sure enough Friday morning was cloudy and relatively cool following a glorious Wednesday and Thursday. However, as the day progressed, the temperature remained fairly mild, and the final forecast we heard suggested that the rain would linger in the west of the country, which was something of a relief.
We were advised to wear plenty of layers, so that’s exactly what we did: we wore thermal vests, jumpers, hoodies and waterproof jackets just in case the forecaster had made a Michael Fish-style blunder. We put on hats, gloves and thermal socks for the old extremities and we were almost ready for the off.
There are actually two sleepouts every year; one in summer, the other towards the end of the year. The later event is apparently much more popular (or perhaps “well-attended” might be a more appropriate phrase), with often three or four times as many participants than the 30 or so that joined us at Middlesbrough College.
When we arrived, we had to sign a disclaimer that said something along the lines of: “You accept you may be injured or even die”. I was fully prepared to go home with a sore back, but to be honest, I felt less inclined to perish in the attempt.
But no matter, we completed the form and set up our double sleeping bag and pillows in the designated area outside the main building.
Much as the event aimed to highlight the hardship faced by the homeless and the poor, we had the luxury of being given a warm meal (soup or jacket potato), hot drinks and access to toilet facilities. What we were about to experience was therefore only a taste of the reality faced by so many on a nightly basis, but I suppose it was important to actually ensure a decent attendance – and help to raise as much as possible towards supporting those most in need.
Thanks to the generosity of friends and family, we had raised £185. The total donated on the night exceeded £5,000, the news of which was a boost as we headed back outside.
I wasn’t expecting to get too much sleep, but after a couple of poor nights during the week, I was certainly tired. I snuggled into the sleeping bag, gloves and hat on, but shoes off, closed my eyes and started to drift. There was a hum of conversation from those around us that was more relaxing than annoying, and I reckon I was probably
asleep by half past ten.
Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t easy to stay comfortable for long periods, and I stirred several times in order to readjust my position – and to remove my hat and gloves.
Would you believe I was too warm?!
I remember thinking each time I woke that, despite a couple of aches and a bit of cramp, this was okay for only one night. It wasn’t even cold or wet. How do people manage when this isn’t just a one-off? If it started to rain … when the temperature dropped …
It’s so easy to take the lives we have for granted.
I woke properly at about five o’clock. The sun was starting to rise, and it was a beautiful morning. Elaine was still fast asleep, but she opened her eyes about half an hour later, having also had a far less difficult night than we’d probably both expected. The event (which was extremely well organised) ended at six o’clock, and people started to drift off back to their respective homes for the weekend.
Within half an hour we were sitting in our living room … and it was basically a normal (albeit early) start to what would hopefully be a normal day. But this time we had a far greater appreciation of the fact that not everybody’s “normal” was the same.