Youngsters sleep-out for homeless at Martineau Gardens December 5, 2016

A courageous band of children aged ten to twelve years old came to Martineau Gardens, to brave the elements of a dark November night to raise awareness and funds for Birmingham’s youth homelessness charity, St Basils. The group decided to build shelters out of cardboard boxes and bring their sleeping bags, they cooked food around a campfire and played games to keep warm.

Pictured above, children (and parents) from the Kings Heath and Moseley Woodcraft group.

This is a subject close to our hearts. Some of our adult volunteers have been homeless, occasionally rough sleeping or are living in hostels. The Therapeutic Horticulture project, where volunteers come together to garden and look after the landscape at Martineau Gardens, means that vulnerable people get the opportunity for fresh air, exercise and friendship and benefit from a sense of wellbeing and achievement.

The event was a satellite sleep out event to coincide with the St Basil’s Big Birmingham Sleep Out 2016.