Perse pupils take part in sponsored sleep-out for homelessness charity

10 May 2019

More than 70 Year 9 pupils had a taste of the reality for rough sleepers when they took part in a sponsored sleep-out to raise money for homelessness charity Emmaus.

They bedded down in various spots in the open air at The Perse and have so far raised more than £4,500 for Emmaus, which helps homeless people work their way out of their situation by giving them meaningful roles as well as the stability of having a roof over their head for as long as required.

Members of the Emmaus Cambridge branch came along and told pupils their stories of living on the streets and how the charity had helped impact their lives for the better. Pupils also took part in a game where they had to ‘earn’ enough ‘money’ (in the form of chocolate coins!) to buy cardboard to sleep on and a map to find the Emmaus volunteers, who were giving out soup and snacks.

Charities Co-ordinator Chloe Fagan said: “It was great for them to chat to the Emmaus volunteers and find out about their experiences of homelessness. The sleep-out also helped them experience the reality of the situation for the homeless and it’s fantastic they’ve been able to help raise so much money for such a worthwhile cause.”

To donate to the Year 9 Emmaus appeal, click here.