Wintercomfort admin
Published: 5th July 2024

A massive thank you to Cathy Atkins and the children from the Windflower Forest School who slept under the stars last weekend (29th June) to raise funds for Wintercomfort.

During a visit to Cambridge at the beginning of the year, the children from Windflower Forest School in Needham Market were shocked and saddened to see the number of homeless people in the city.

On their return home they decided that they wanted to raise money to support people experiencing homelessness and set themselves a fundraising sleepout challenge.

Kindly supported by Garnham’s Coffee who allowed the group to use their site as a safe space to set-up camp for the night, the children spent the evening making popcorn on the fire, burning incense, playing steel drums and eating stinging nettle crisps!

They also used the opportunity to discuss the difficulties faced by people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing their homes.

‘Having an evening with a fire, in a safe place, and the company of other kind-hearted people from the Windflower Forest School family, was tiring and cold – but we were safe and could enjoy the stars and listen to the glorious morning chorus from the birds. And we didn’t have to do it all again the next night.’  Cathy Atkins

The children have raised a fantastic £935  which is a wonderful achievement, and their JustGiving page is still open if you would like to show your support.

A sponsored sleepout is a great way to raise awareness of the challenges faced by homeless people. We can provide help and guidance to ensure your event is safe and secure and can also help you to set up a sponsorship page to gather donations.

If you would like to set yourself a similar challenge or have other fundraising ideas, please get in touch with us at [email protected]