6th Form sleepout raises £5,000 for homeless charity
Chief Executive Amanda Dubarry (in pink cap) receives the cheque from representatives of Farnborough's Sixth Form College Students Association Charities committee
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Christmas came early to Step by Step, the Aldershot-based charity for homeless young people, when representatives from Farnborough Sixth Form College presented them with a magnificent cheque for £5,000. Over forty young people and staff had braved freezing November temperatures and rain to sleep out and raise the money. Step by Step's Chief Executive, Amanda Dubarry, clients Fred Allen and Michael Frasier, along with Project Leader Ivan Norris and Community Fundraiser Annette Althen, attended the College's Christmas Sing-a-long on December 16th to receive the generous donation.
“We were totally overwhelmed by the generosity of the students,” Annette said. “The project has worked at many levels. It was through HELP, one of Step by Step's peer education projects, that the students had learnt of the dangers of living on the streets. In return the students have supported us with their very generous and hard-earned gift.”
The students had pledged to sleep out on the college campus and, as well as the inclement weather, they suffered further deprivation when their mobile phones, music players and other electronic 'life support systems' were temporarily confiscated. Before settling down for the night, three clients from Step by Step explained how they had become homeless, often through family breakup or substance abuse, and how they were sometimes scared to fall asleep in case they were attacked. The students were very challenged by their stories, and everyone managed stayed out all night, sustained by soup and bread provided by the Student Association Charities Committee – some even managed to sleep!
College Tutor Christine Eustace said: “It was great to witness the delight of the Students Association at achieving their target of £5,000. I am very proud of them and the generosity of our students - it brings a lump to my throat!”
Step by Step is committed not only to tackling the effects of homelessness among young people, but also to helping them to avoid it. The charity runs three peer education projects, where teams of clients make presentations to local schools and youth groups about the dangers of homelessness and how it links to the abuse of alcohol and drugs. If you would like one of the teams to visit your school or youth group, or would like to support Step by Step with a sponsored sleepout or other event, please contact Annette Althen or Gill Butler on 01252 327317, or email them at fundraising@stepbystep.org.uk.
 
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