In this blog, Chris, who recently joined our team as a Carers Voices Officer, shares his experience of braving the variable UK weather as part of the Royal British Legion Industries’ (RBLI) The Great Tommy Sleep Out.
Throughout the month of March, I planned and successfully slept outdoors for three weekend nights to raise awareness of the issue of veteran homelessness, drawing attention to veterans that are homeless in the UK right now.
RBLI’s mission is to transform lives across the UK, providing homes, employment and welfare support for some of the country’s most vulnerable veterans. Part of the support RBLI provides to ex-service veterans is homes for those who are at rock bottom and find themselves on the streets. The veterans who live in the charity’s emergency accommodation have access to welfare and healthcare support, employment, training and work experience, which helps them on their way to independence after leaving the Armed Forces.
As a member of the Royal British Legion and an ex-Territorial Army soldier, this is something very close to my heart. Finding that my military camping experience had somewhat dropped over the years, I did find it to be a bit of a shock to the system, especially after the temperature dropped to -2°C over two of the nights. I discovered that the secret to having a good night’s sleep is keep your feet warm, always keep a flask of hot tea close by, and hope whatever creature is scraping the outside of your tent remains outside the tent!
I was indeed fortunate that I was only sleeping outside for two nights and as an added bonus was actually in my own back garden, so I was relatively safe and had access to warmth and a toilet if I needed it; something that a homeless veteran does not have. I also experienced the fatigue due to exposure to extremely low temperatures, which impacted on me throughout the day, again making me realise how tough this situation is and how it could impact on my mental health and physical health if it was a long-term situation.
The first weekend I spent outside was in a tent, where the temperature dropped to -2°C and completely frosted over the outside of the tent in the morning. This caused my feet to get cold and kept me awake most of the night on the first night, a problem rectified on the second, allowing a far better sleep.
The second weekend was in a Basha (Army Shelter). The temperature for this weekend’s sleep out was marginally better, with the outside temperature staying above 5°C.
I was able to complete the sleep out. More than 1.8 million has been raised so far nationally for our homeless veterans. The Great Tommy Sleep Out helps UK veterans by allowing the provision of safe homes and the support they need to get back on their feet. However, the emergency accommodation, Mountbatten Pavilion, is facing enormous pressure this coming winter and will rely heavily on funds raised from the Sleep Out.
Every pound raised from The Great Tommy Sleep Out help UK veterans by allowing us to provide safe homes and the support they need to get back on their feet.
Our emergency accommodation, Mountbatten Pavilion, is facing enormous pressure this winter and will rely heavily on funds raised from your Sleep Out.
Chris Drew,
Carers Voices Officer