The Hub supports Weymouth's sleep out
The Hub turned out in good numbers last Tuesday (29.01.08) to support WIRS (Weymouth Initiative for Rough Sleepers) when they arranged a sleep-out during Poverty and Homeless week, in St Mary's Church garden. An event that has been echoed in towns around the country.
In Weymouth the services are currently all voluntary, and WIRS has been working on a strategy and fundraising to develop a signposting service for rough sleepers, similar to The Hub.
The Hub has a real interest in WIRS' success as we share many of the same service users and a good service down there would mean many people wouldn't have to struggle over the Ridgeway to get the support and help they need and want. Over the last year, over 30 rough sleepers are now in housing, that wouldn't have got there without the Hub's good work. This needs to be replicated in Weymouth.
The picture (taken by Mark Stevens) shows the large crowd came to support the group of about 20 or so people sleeping out, some being shown the ropes by existing rough sleepers.
It was an extraordinary, good natured event starting with a lively dance group, then local speakers just giving a small taste of the reasons for the event. Some people came alone, simply to show their support, and some bought donations and some offered their expertise in the future.
As people began to drift away, those who had volunteered to sleep rough for the first time, settled down in sleeping bags, set on cardboard `mattresses' and turned to experienced rough sleepers for support and advice on how to survive the night.
Annabel Broome