‘We’re not a civilised society if people are dying on our streets’ was the reminder Oxford’s Lord Mayor Mike Rowley gave us to kick off the evening.
I was lucky to be able to experience sleeping rough in Oxford on Thursday night as part of @CEO Sleepout. Even the northern lights showed up.
We’ve raised a whopping £80k and it’s still not too late to support this very worthy cause: https://lnkd.in/edf3-YXv
I drove back down the A34 the next morning with a happy heart from meeting so many local people who are doing endless good.
We heard from Monica Gregory and Tracy Joel who know what it’s really like to have lived on the street, enduring abuse, and who are now helping others in need through LEAF.
The sleepout was full with amazing people who are giving their time and energy to tackle homelessness. From people with big hearts who have given people a place to stay, through to those who have side-stepped from corporate careers into leading social causes to make a difference.
As well as brilliant MPs Calum Miller and Anneliese Dodds, and Baroness Jan Royall, Principal of Somerville College and Chair of the Oxfordshire Inclusive Economy Partnership.
With 2024 figures escalating to 350,000 people without a home, the situation isn’t getting better.
A number we could significantly tackle if we came together in the right way to explore this complex problem further…watch this space for a future hackathon we’d love you to get involved in with Bianca Robinson and Uuna.
If this post can simply raise our awareness to the problem, we’re a step further.
Even better if you can spare some time to donate.
We might have woken up with frost on us but it wasn’t hard for us. We got to go home to a kettle and a hot shower. I walked in my doorway very appreciative of having that basic shelter and space to feel safe.
Thank you LinkedIn for your fantastic support, I was so incredibly touched.
Thank you too to Jane Cranston, Chair, Oxfordshire Homeless Movement (OHM) and Yvonne Pinner for all the incredible work you do to tackle homelessness locally.
I met so many fantastic people doing good, including: Chris Winchester, Sonya Batchelor, Nicola Leavesley, Nik Roberts, Kate Drewett, Matthew Weait, Rob Chapman Cecile Hemery
