"Things will only get harder" says Canterbury based homelessness charity
They slept the night at Leeds Castle to raise money for homelessness
Last updated 10th Apr 2024
A Canterbury based homelessness charity says things will only get harder for them, despite business leaders from across Kent sleeping outdoors last night at Leeds Castle.
They were raising money for homelessness in the county, with the final total being donated to Porchlight and the Amber Foundation.
Just this month, Porchlight announced that they would lose ÂŁ1 million from it's annual budget, after 'significant cuts' from Kent County Council.
It has left the charity frantically scampering to raise funds by the end of month, so that their hostels don't close.
Adam Colthorp is a director at Porchlight and says the challenge they are facing will only grow further.
He said: "Every donation is important but the truth is this is a growing challenge.
"Kent County Council aren't in the situation they want to be in, it must be devastating to have to choose vulnerable groups they have to support over others.
"Unfortunately, as a result, there is less money to be able support people who are street homeless.
"Everyone deserves that safe home but with the credit checks and the background checks, there is a lot stacked against someone to get off the street
"We want to see sustainable lasting change, and that comes from empowering people to make those decisions themselves and navigate the system.
"I'd like to invite the government to spend a day or a week shadowing us, seeing the work that we do, seeing the clients that we work with
"They need to see the reality of it, see that it's a growing problem."
CEO Sleepout UK started running in 2013 and since then, has raised a total of 3.8 million for over 100 charities in the country.
Leeds Castle was their second sleep out of the year, with another 12 to follow between now and November, taking place in venues such as The Stadium of Light in Sunderland and Lords Cricket Ground in London.
Last night, there were 42 businesses sleeping on the historic grounds, all from a range of different companies and backgrounds
If you would like to donate to the charity, please visit CEO Sleepout UK.