Cambridge Regional College students brave the cold to help the homeless

Students had a taste of life on the streets when they braved a night in the cold to raise awareness of homeless charity Emmaus.

The teenagers from Cambridge Regional College put up a makeshift shelter and camped out in temperatures which dropped to 2 degrees – supported by a late-night soup kitchen from Emmaus.

The 15 students, who are studying Uniformed Services, motor vehicle and international courses at the college, kept a fire going throughout the night to stay warm, with hourly challenges to ‘earn’ the essentials for a life outdoors.

Lecturer Andrew Blackmore said it had been a very challenging night.

“It was very cold and the students had to complete challenges every hour to ‘earn’ the essentials for survival – using a newspaper for warmth, fire-lighting, creating a shelter and problem-solving,” he said.

“The Emmaus soup kitchen showed the students the sort of support given to people sleeping on the streets and really opened their eyes to the plight of those who are homeless.”

The sleepout also raised more than £350 for Cambridge-based charity SOS Children’s Villages UK, which works in 125 countries to provide family homes, schools, medical centres, and community outreach to vulnerable children and families.

Pictured CRC students under canvas raising awareness of homelessness

– ends –

MEDIA ENQUIRIES
For more information, please contact Lynn O’Shea, Communications & PR Manager, on 01223 418773 or email [email protected]