Scouts Help Sleep Out To Raise More Than £4K For Guildford Action

Published on: 19 Dec, 2022
Updated on: 28 Dec, 2022

Scouts from the 9th St Nicolas and 1st Jacobs Well groups were among those who took part in a sleep out on Friday, December 2, and helped raise more than £4,000 for Guildford Action.

Looking well prepared for the cold, scouts from 9th St Nicolas and 1st Jacobs Well groups at the slept out in the covered part of the car park at Guildford’s Spectrum leisure centre on December 2..

The chief executive officer for Guildford Action (the drop-in day centre for homeless people and rough sleepers), Joanne Tester, said: “The scouts were amazing and I cannot believe they all slept! It was so great to see so many of them. Thank you.”

The sleep out was attended by 10 hardy scouts from Jacobs Well and three tough cookies from St Nicolas and took place in the covered part of the car park at Guildford’s Spectrum leisure centre.

Leaders Toby Nicols, Oskari Pentikainen, Angie Lee and Charlie McCafferty were with the 13 young scouts and were impressed with what the youngsters learned from the sleep out.

Charlie McCafferty said: “‘It’s so important that our young people are aware of those who are struggling within the local community. It develops empathy and compassion and underlines doing the next best and right thing.”

Oskari Pentikainen said: “For some scouts the event was the first time ever they had heard about homeless people in Guildford. I feel this fact as well as the experience will stay with the young people for years to come.”

Angie Lee said: “With the excesses of the Christmas season almost upon us, it was a great opportunity for us all to be reminded of just how fortunate we are.”

Forty per cent of Guildford Action’s funding is from Guildford Borough Council. Grants from charities, other agencies, public donations nd fundraising makes up the rest.

If you want to donate clothes, food and other items, as well as money or to help Guildford Action by volunteering, call 01483 560003 or email info@guildfordaction.org.uk or click here for its website.