TWO Alex F Noble & Son Nissan employees braved sub-zero conditions to sleep rough and raise money and awareness for the poor and homeless.
Jill Jenkinson and Andy Forrest, both service advisors at Alex F Noble & Son, in Straiton, near Edinburgh, were two of almost 8,000 people sleeping under the stars in Edinburgh’s Princes Street Gardens, in aid of Social Bite.
But the times were tough for everyone involved, with temperatures plummeting to -6 degrees.
Jill said: “Sleep in the Park is an event we will simply never forget. Pre-sleep entertainment from Liam Gallagher, Deacon Blue, Amy Macdonald and Frightened Rabbit warmed us up before John Cleese told us all a bedtime story. We also heard from Rob Brydon, Sir Chris Hoy and Sir Bob Geldof before we ‘retired’ for the night. Then, the freezing temperatures really began to bite hard. I honestly don’t think either of us have ever been so cold. We even had a layer of frost on our sleeping bags in the morning.
“The whole experience served as a sharp reminder of the awful conditions homeless people have to face, particularly at this time of year. We were both so grateful that we don’t have to do this for real every night but really pleased we were able to be part of a fantastic fundraising effort for this very worthy cause. A big thank-you from us both goes to all the people who sponsored us.”
Social Bite, which aims to eradicate homelessness in Scotland over the next five years, has raised £3.6 million through the event.
Social Bite co-founder, Josh Littlejohn MBE, said: “Tonight was the night when people from all walks of life came together in Scotland, to stick up for the most vulnerable people among us. This is the night that we collectively gave a voice to the people who have never had one. It is not a question of resource; it is simply a question of focus. And what the participants have all done tonight, by giving up their beds, is put a razor-sharp focus on the issue.
“We won’t end homelessness after one night, but we have made one giant leap towards that goal. And that is the victory of everyone who took part.”
Jill has individually raised more than £250 while Andy fundraised as part of the Capital Credit Union team, which has raised almost £5,000.
To donate, visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/capital-credit-union or https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JillJenkison
