Braving The Cold And Sleeping Rough For Charity

Exactly one month before Christmas, the team from Prima Leisure Medway will be spending a night on the streets of Chatham to raise much needed funds for the homeless. The team are aiming to raise in excess of £1,000 for Caring Hands, a local charity that feeds and supports homeless people in the community.

Last year on Christmas Eve, Michael McClusky died in a shop doorway in Chatham High Street, four days later a few yards away another man was found dead from exposure. Homelessness is a growing problem in Medway, which has the largest number of homeless people in Kent. Counts have shown over 3,500 rough sleepers on any one night in Autumn and the only shelters and soup kitchens available are ran entirely by charity.

The Charity 

Prima is supporting a local registered charity, Caring Hands (No. 115247). Situated in Medway, Caring Hands has been responding to the problems facing homeless and marginalised people in our society by feeding and supporting them since 2001. It’s all about changing lives for the better. They’ve helped over 5,000 people since opening and follow a three stage approach to changing lives; Sustenance, self-confidence and self-fulfilment. This approach ensures guests have the basic essentials required for survival and the confidence to overcome their situation and reach their full potential. However, there is still a long way to go. With increased public assistance, they can provide the ongoing support needed starting with survival essentials.

Prima Leisure Medway

Prima Leisure’s Medway store opened its doors within the Moto service station on the M2 in summer 2017. Our online store is a gateway to 16,000 products with all in-stock items dispatched same day. Prima is a one-stop-shop for a full range of leisure essentials including BBQs, security and technology, pet accessories, camping equipment, and caravan parts. Prima has multiple stores that are conveniently located just off the motorways, with stores in Exeter (M5 J30), Bristol (M5 J16) and Medway (M2), in addition to concessions within caravan dealerships. At least five new stores are planned in 2018.

Sleepout Fundraiser

The sleep out team will be sponsored by Outwell who are providing sleeping bags for the night which will be donated after the fundraiser. These come in a wide range of styles designed to make you feel as comfortable as being in your own bed. With soft, warm and high performing fabrics that let your skin breathe, you are able to stay comfortable whatever the weather making it a useful item for rough sleepers to have. Prima stocks a wide range of Outwell products that guarantee home from home comfort to ensure the family can relax and play while touring or camping including camping accessories, crockery, beds and sleeping bags.

The Medway staff are passionate about their local community and have rallied with Prima’s management team to spend a cold night in just Outwell sleeping bags and cardboard boxes. As temperatures continue to drop, it is becoming a very dangerous time for the homeless. It’s important for communities to come together and help out the most vulnerable. No one deserves to be out in the cold streets. Any donations possible will go to helping the homeless community survive this winter.  Please help the team reach their £1,000 target through their Just Giving Page, every little counts!   

Here's how your donations can help:

You will be able to see live updates on the Prima Leisure Medway Facebook page.

If you would like to make a donation and support the team, you can do so at the Prima Leisure Just Giving Page.

You can also find out more about the charity on the Caring Hands site.