We Are Trinity is an established charity in Uxbridge whose aim is to create a better life for homeless people by providing them with shelter in a safe secure environment. It also works with them to provide opportunities for training and employment.

As part of their role, each year they organise 'The Big Sleep out' event. On November 29 around two hundred people participated to raise awareness on homelessness. The participants slept in cardboard boxes in a car park of Hillingdon Athletics Stadium, Uxbridge. During the event, each young person who participated raised sixty to hundred pounds to help homeless men and women get off the streets and back into accommodation and work.

Homelessness, both locally and nationally is on the increase, and trinity hope to "remain in a position of resourcefulness to work with those who want to  join a journey with them, leaving homelessness behind".

Trinity believe that events like the Big sleep out are important and “not only do we raise vital money that is use to develop the work we do with our residents, but we get to inspire young people and challenge their own perspectives on homelessness.”

Lucy Coull, 16 said “It was a really great experience. To actually sleep in those conditions helps you to understand what some people who aren’t as fortunate go through. It helps us to understand how privileged we are having something as simple like a bed to sleep in and a shelter to keep us dry.”

She continued “But It also made me more determined to help those who must sleep like that every night. Overall I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to be part of a fantastic cause and experience something new.”

The Big Sleep Out
The Big Sleep Out

Not only had the young people slept in cardboard boxes but teachers too. Tony Robinson concluded “In the end, we had over 30 young people from Greenford High school as well as a whole host of schools from the neighbouring area taking part. It was a fantastic night and I am very proud of all those who took part. I will be collecting in the sponsorship money over the next weeks and we hope to have raised a good amount for Trinity Homeless Projects- getting people off the streets permanently.”

There are many causes of homelessness says trinity, it can be due to “poor literacy, abuse, criminality, family breakdown, mental illness…the list goes on. And often rough sleeping problems become multiplied, making it even harder to make the transition to ‘normal’ life.” The charity hopes by giving them sheltered accommodation, training and employment they can transform lives for the better and forever.

‘The Big Sleep out’ event has made young people understand, only when “we come to events like this to see lives changed…and so often it’s our own lives that end up changing.”