‘Our aim is to end homelessness in Scotland’

As fundraising for the Sleep in the Park event breaks £1 million, Jack McKeown talks to its founder Josh Littlejohn about how it will help tackle homelessness

On Saturday December 8 thousands of people will sleep rough in Scotland’s four biggest cities to raise money to tackle homelessness.

Of course the awful reality is thousands of people sleep outdoors in Scotland every night of the year because they have no choice.

Sleep in the Park takes place in Dundee, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow and will see people get a taste of homelessness while raising money to tackle one of the saddest blights on 21st Century Scotland.

The event is run by the charity Social Bite, which was founded in 2012 by Josh Littlejohn and Alice Thompson.

Fundraising has just smashed through the £1 million barrier and Josh said he was delighted with the build up to the event.

“We’re just past 1,000 people signed up in Dundee and the same again in Aberdeen,” he said. “And we’ve got 2,500 in Glasgow. We’ve also broken £1 million in fundraising already, which is excellent.

“The target for the event is £4 million but the majority of donations come in the last two weeks before the event, so I’m very happy that we’ve made a great start.”

The money raised will be used to secure a total of 830 flats in five Scottish cities that will give rough sleepers their own home.

“In Dundee we’ll have 100 flats. That’s 100 people who will have their own home for the first time,” Josh added. “Over Scotland we want to get 830 people off the streets and into a place they can call their own.”

The properties have been leased from local authorities, housing associations, and a small number of private landlords.

“We’re targeting those at the most extreme end of the spectrum, who have been homeless for a long time and are often dealing with difficult challenges.

“Our premise is people are best equipped to deal with those challenges from a place they can call home. If you’re sleeping rough it’s almost impossible to deal with any challenges from such an insecure base.”

As well as providing accommodation for the first 18 months, money raised by Sleep in the Park will give people personalised support to help improve their lives.

Josh said: “Some people will need help dealing with mental health or addiction issues. Others may just need help with paying bills, shopping or setting up a direct debit.”

Ultimately, Social Bite wants to come as close as possible to eliminating homelessness in Scotland. “If you take Dundee as an example, with the right focus, resources and political will, there’s no reason why homelessness there shouldn’t become a thing of the past,” said Josh.

Eradicating homelessness is a lofty aim. But then, do we really ever get anywhere if we don’t start out with grand ambitions? On Saturday December 8 hundreds will sleep rough in Dundee – not, thankfully, because they have no choice, rather to raise cash and (almost equally as important) awareness.

And those in Dundee will not be alone.

The “Sleep in the Park” event is being replicated across the country, with similar events being held in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh on the same night.

Thousands have pledged to take part and fundraising has already reached the £1 million figure.

Event organiser Josh Littlejohn of the Social Bite is in no doubt of the potential benefits.

He states that 100 flats will be provided in Dundee, proving 100 people with their own home for the first time – a place they can quite literally use as a base as they attempt to build a brighter future.

Josh has a laser-like focus to match his bold ambitions, and already the charity he founded with Alice Thompson has made great strides.

Making homelessness a thing of the past is the ultimate aim.

We can all play a part in helping make that dream – which we surely all share – a glorious reality.

Why not sign up today?