Liverpool students sleep in school to raise funds for homeless charity

St John Bosco students during the sleepover

Students from St John Bosco Arts College, Croxteth, recently took part in a school sleepover to raise vital funds for a Liverpool-based homeless and housing charity.

45 Year 7 students took part in the sleepover that raised £150 for The Whitechapel Centre and saw them take part in a variety of activities and discussions about homelessness so they could truly understand the positive impact their fundraising would make.

Supported by the school's senior leadership team, religious education department and librarian, the sleepover began with students creating their own dens from cardboard to reflect the tough reality many homeless people in the city face on a daily basis.

Students then listened to a presentation, delivered by St John Bosco's head of religious education and Catholic life, Mrs Tomkins, who spoke about the important work The Whitechapel Centre does around Liverpool.

During the presentation, students also heard personal stories from people experiencing homelessness, which gave them a deeper insight into the many complex factors that contribute to the issue in the city.

Ruth McCaughley, fundraising manager at The Whitechapel Centre, said: "It's great to see young people taking such an interest in homelessness and how challenging it is for people who find themselves sleeping rough.

"We're really grateful to the students who took part in the sleepover and appreciate their fantastic fundraising efforts."

Afterwards, students took part in a budgeting task that challenged them to navigate limited resources and make difficult decisions that mirror some of the everyday realities faced by individuals who find themselves homeless. The school's religious education link governor, Miss Cresham, also supported the activities.

Sophie, a Year 7 student who attended the sleepover, said: "The presentation really opened my eyes. I feel I now have a deeper understanding of what life on the streets would be like and have so much sympathy for those who find themselves in such unfortunate situations."

Students were also able to experience the type of meals homeless people have access to as St John Bosco set up a soup kitchen area.

Speaking about this experience, Mariia in Year 7, said: "It was really interesting to experience the soup kitchen. It's clear how much The Whitechapel Centre cares for the homeless community, they provide such a variety and choice of foods, not just soup."

Mrs Tomkins, who organised the sleepover, said: "The sleepover was a wonderful mix of fun, learning and social awareness, all while supporting a worthy cause. With the number of people facing homelessness in Liverpool having risen in recent years, it's so important that we provide our students with this experience so they can grow in empathy and truly appreciate the realities faced by people in our community."

Headteacher, Mr Darren Gidman, added: "This is the third sleepover we've held here at St John Bosco Arts College in aid of the homeless. As we approach the winter period, with the cold snap beginning to take hold, this time of year poses the greatest health risk to those who are homeless and it's crucial that as a community we come together to support those people and ensure their safety.

"The sleepover reflected our Salesian values of love, faith, hope, respect and community as our Year 7 students came together to support those in need, whilst having a fantastic time and learning more about how they can help. Thank you to all staff who supported the event and made it a success."

LINK

St John Bosco Arts College: www.stjohnboscoartscollege.com