Dozens brave cold night for Swindon’s Big Sleep Out

Cardboard sheets were laid across the school grounds as sleeping bags were unrolled and coats zipped tight against the wind. For one night, those taking part gave up their beds to show support for people facing homelessness in Swindon.

Interviews with participants:

Ben Harmon, Chief Executive of Threshold, said:

“The Big Sleep Out is a group of people who have chosen to give up their bed and sleep out and stand alongside people who are experiencing homelessness.

It’s going to be an uncomfortable night, it’s going to be a cold night, but what we’re doing is really important. We are raising awareness and we are raising vital funds so that we can provide accommodation and support to people for whom this isn’t a choice.”

He highlighted the scale of the issue locally.

“We have nearly 1,000 people in Swindon for whom this is their reality. They do not know where they’re going to be sleeping tomorrow.

Yes, some are sleeping on the streets, but the vast majority are hidden homeless. Families in temporary accommodation, people sofa surfing, people packing their lives into a couple of bags not knowing what comes next.”

Although participants faced a cold and wet night, they had access to indoor space and refreshments, including hot food donated by Village Hotel Swindon. The contrast was not lost on those attending.

“It’s one night,” Ben added. “There’s fundraising going on, there’s warmth and support. For many people in Swindon, that security doesn’t exist.”

Among those taking part was the Mayor of Swindon, Fay Howard, who had previously joined a sleep out ten years ago.

“It’s an absolutely amazing cause,” she said. “It’s a shame we need it, but we do. It’s important people understand what Threshold does and that homelessness isn’t just what you see on the streets.”

For Fiona, the event carried personal significance. Her son experienced homelessness and now receives support from Threshold.

“My son made a lot of bad choices and we lost him for five years,” she said. “He was living in a wood. Then Threshold came along.

He’s now been drug free for a year. He’s seeing a doctor, a dentist, getting mental health support. His support worker is like a brother or a dad rolled into one. They don’t realise how special they are.”

Steve Young, now a staff member at Threshold, also shared his experience. In 2021, he and his daughter became homeless and moved between emergency accommodation and sofa surfing.

“My focus was my daughter’s mental health. It was really hard. When we finally got accommodated, things began to improve. I got the right support, went back to work, and eventually applied for a job at Threshold. Now I’m here helping others.”

Others spoke about how quickly circumstances can change. Ben, who works in mental health, described how addiction led to him sofa surfing and living in supported housing.

“We’re all a couple of paycheques away from being homeless,” he said. “There’s a huge stigma around homelessness and addiction. It can happen through illness, job loss, a breakdown in relationships. It’s about ending that stigma.”

Young people were also among those sleeping out. Alys raised more than £700 through family and friends, while Alyssa, a pupil at Lawn Manor Academy, raised £400.

Local organisations supported the event, with Ipsom providing live music and volunteers serving hot jacket potatoes before participants settled down for the night.

One volunteer, now 25 years in recovery, said he had previously spent years sleeping rough in Windsor.

“I’ve done this for real before,” he said. “That’s why I wouldn’t do it in the past. But it’s only one night now. Tomorrow I go home. That’s the difference.”

As temperatures dropped, there was music and conversation across the school grounds. By morning, those taking part will return home, while many in Swindon would continue to face uncertainty about where they will sleep next.

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