Eden Project stages mass 'Sleep Out' to help the homeless in Cornwall
Almost 100 people camped out last night, equivalent to the number of rough sleepers in October
Almost 100 people have camped out at the Eden Project to help the homeless in Cornwall.
The Biomes' mass 'Sleep Out' supports two charities who help rough sleepers - St Petrocs and the Amber Foundation.
The annual event took place on 25th November after being held virtually last year due to the pandemic.
Fundraisers say they are facing an increase in demand to provide shelter to people in need.
St Petrocs worked with 101 people who slept rough at some point during October, which is almost equivalent to the amount of beds on the floor of the Eden Project during this years 'Sleep Out'.
Lois Wild works on the fundraising and communications team at St Petrocs and slept beside the Biomes last night.
She said this is the largest number in three years: "This is making us feel increasingly concerned going in to a really cold winter and the constant pressures after the pandemic.
"We're starting our Winter services earlier this year because there's no other option with these numbers. We have to get people inside and not let them sleep rough."
The Eden 'Sleep Out' aims to offer a feeling of homelessness, with participants staying in a sleeping bag on the floor and keeping warm beneath layers of coats, hats and gloves.
Lois Wild added: "When you've slept on the floor for a night in late November, when there's been frost this week, it kind of gives you a little bit of an insight of what people might feel if this is what they were having to do.
"It's not the real experience because we all know we can go to bed tomorrow and we all know we can get in a hot shower."
Last year’s virtual Eden 'Sleep Out' raised around £10,000 between the two charities in total, a big boost to the funding of their winter services.
The charities involved with this year's event at the Eden Project said with continued seasonal pressures and COVID-19, their work has never been more needed.
Lois continued: "It's really important to recognise that people who are sleeping rough, they are human beings. Just to smile to them, to talk to them or offer them a hot drink. Just some empathy."
Along with charities, some clients from The Amber Foundation stayed among fundraisers last night to raise awareness of real people being forced into homelessness.
Michael Edmondson was one of four homeless people who spent the night at Eden.
He said: "It's been an extreme change of circumstances... being out in the four elements and going in to a full brick wall."
Michael has been receiving support from the Amber Foundation for a month.
He attended the event to raise awareness about the help he has gained from charities and for other people in situations like his.
He added: "A lot of people have their own background histories, some relate to each other and most of them are trying to compete with authority of who's worse off and who's best off. We're all, in a sense, on the same level. We just need that little direction."