Fundraisers sleep rough for homelessness charity

The organisers of a charity sleep-out in East Sussex said they wanted to offer "a tiny glimpse into the challenges young people face when sleeping rough".

The Big City Sleepout, run by Clock Tower Sanctuary in Brighton, saw 33 participants – including comedian Suzi Ruffell – sleep at the foot of the Brighton i360 from 20:00 GMT on 8 December to 06:00 on 9 December.

As a drop-in day centre for people aged between 16 to 25 experiencing homelessness, the charity said it had raised more than £20,000 before sunrise.

Mo Kanjilal, vice-chair of trustees, said: "It's been a wet, grim night – but we only do this for one night."

The event was previously due to take place on 1 December at Brighton Palace Pier but was postponed by organisers due to bad weather.

Participant Amber described her experience as "uncomfortable, wet and windy".

"Me and my mate made camp under a bench. We put a bin bag over the top to stop the rain coming through," she told BBC Radio Sussex.

"There are people sleeping out like this every single night. We're doing it see what it's like and to raise money, but you really realise how tough it is."

Andy, another participant, said that the needs of young people often came "fairly low down the list of priorities".

"For a lot of young people in the city who are homeless or short on things, there's a need to be met," he added.

Clock Tower Sanctuary, that offers a range of services including hot meals, clean clothes and one-to-one support for vulnerable young people, said 15% of its users were sleeping rough.

A 2025 Brighton & Hove City Council report showed that children were "disproportionately overrepresented" among those experiencing homelessness.

Analysis from Shelter in 2024 estimated that there were 1,411 homeless children in Brighton in June 2024, representing almost 40% of all homeless people in the city.

Lorna Beaumont, Clock Tower Sanctuary's fundraising officer, said it was "trying to reshape futures" of young people in need.

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