The news editor of a weekly newspaper slept rough for a night to raise awareness of homelessness.

Alan Hayes news editor of the Uxbridge Gazette spent the night sleeping in a cardboard box as part of the Big SleepOut, a sponsored event run by the Trinity Homeless Project.

Writing about his experience in the paper Alan said it made him question whether it could become a reality.

Said Alan: “As the rain begins to fall and a cold wind swirls round Uxbridge Athletics Stadium, no matter how much of a jolly this might seem you can’t help a shiver of cold mixed with apprehension. And those nagging questions.

“Can I place myself truly out of the way of homelessness? How many of us could? Is it one pay packet away? Two?”

Trinity employs many of those who have reached out to it for help, or gives them a leg up into training or further education.

Added Alan: “When the patience of friends, mortgage holders and employers runs out, and if the love and trust of family breaks down, where would we be? What if we really had to find somewhere to sleep late on a winter’s night?

“Last Friday, along with about 80 other people, I found myself under the roof of the stand at the stadium off Gatting Way pondering these questions as I built a bijou des res out of cardboard boxes.

“I had chivvied friends and collegues to sponsor me, filled in the required forms and layered up with warm clothes ready for a night on the cold, hard ground.”

Alan’s efforts added much needed cash to the funds raised by the project which so far stands at £13,800.

Visit www.trinityhomelessprojects.co.uk and follow the Virgin Money Giving link.