Rough sleeping to help homeless veterans – The Great Tommy Sleep Out at Dunnet Head
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Moved by the plight of homeless veterans, an ex-soldier living at Dunnet Head will take part in a bid to raise charity money for the Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI).
The Great Tommy Sleep Out is RBLI’s annual flagship fundraising event, as each year in March people across the UK sleep outdoors for one night or more to experience, in a small way, the reality of life for the UK’s estimated 6000 homeless veterans. The Great Tommy Sleep Out is open to individuals, groups, and companies. As everyone has different abilities, it’s up to the person or people taking part to pick their location, plan their night or nights sleeping outside, and fundraise.
Phil Boardman, who moved to Dunnett Head in 2017 after he retired and owns Windhaven Camping and B&B in Caithness, the most northerly site on the UK mainland, said: “I’m doing this as most of my family are in the forces, and I did a little bit in the Queen’s Lancashire Regiment a very long time ago.
"I asked the locals to join me, and they said they were too old, so they signed up, and we’ll do what we can for our ages. Six or seven of us will sleep here in tents on March 1 and 2, but there could be more. As the winds can get up to 60 or 90 miles an hour, it should be interesting. In our group there’s George Pain, a Scout leader who’s 72, Ivor Thomas 65, Jo Taggart from a nearby campsite, and Sara Armitage and Kerryn from the coastguard team, who are younger.”
If you would like to sponsor Phil and his group visit: www.facebook.com/donate/574539704890997/
RBLI runs its Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company social enterprise factory in Scotland where veterans make the country’s road and rail signs.
Lisa Farmer, RBLI’s chief executive, said: “The support from people like Phil and his group who take part in The Great Tommy Sleep Out has never been more important.
"The Great Tommy Sleep Out is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by servicemen and women who find themselves without a home when they return to civilian life. This is an important issue, and we are working with the Office for Veterans’ Affairs to reduce veteran homelessness and end rough sleeping.”
If you would like to take part in The Great Tommy Sleep Out, go to rbli.co.uk/sleepout to sign up.
RBLI can move veterans who are homeless into its emergency accommodation within 24 hours of referral. Last year, the demand for RBLI’s services for homeless veterans increased by 45 per cent – and with the cost of living crisis, the charity expects the cost of housing those already supported to more than treble. Every penny raised by The Great Tommy Sleep Out will go directly to RBLI’s wide range of services providing a home, welfare, and employment support to Armed Forces veterans.
