Sleaford veteran sleeping outside amongst mannequins to raise money for the Royal British Legion
Jason Roffey has chosen to spend four nights in Mannakin Hall in Grantham
Last updated 4th Mar 2024
An Army and Royal Navy veteran from Sleaford is spending the week sleeping amongst mannequins to raise money for those who have served the country but are now facing homelessness.
It's part of the Great Tommy Sleep Out arranged by the Royal British Legion.
Jason Roffey has chosen to spend four nights in Mannakin Hall in Grantham. It's a place where mannequins are saved from landfill and are refurbished to rent out to the film and music industry, and for exhibitions.
Jason told us why he's taking on the challenge:
"I have spoken to a couple of veterans and to people who haven't been veterans but who are homeless and their struggles are very very real.
"Especially in this day and age where the way finances are going and bills and everything else creeping up"
Tonight is the first night of four - It's a part of the Royal British Legion's Great Tommy Sleep Out where serving and former personnel sleep outside in March to raise awareness of the work the charity does in housing those that have nowhere to stay.
Last year Jason met a veteran who was homeless and was able to get him help through the charity:
"I did my first sleepout last year to help raise funds to help homeless veterans to get back into work and get back into accommodation.
"Beginning of last year a veteran asked for some help.
"So we got in touch with British Legion industries and they took him on board and helped him out no end."
Jason tells us more about the sleepout location:
"I'm sleeping out at Mannakin Hall, it is a fantastic place during the day.
"But when the evening starts to crawl in and shadows start appearing and eyes look like they are looking at you - it becomes very very spooky."