The spotlight is on homelessness in Merton this week as two events see volunteers give up time to help those without a home.
Volunteers prepared meals for 14 homeless people and others will be sleeping rough tonight at two events to show solidarity with the growing number of homeless people in London.
Holy Trinity Church in Wimbledon’s Broadway is host for both activities.
Coun Chirico, second from left, with other volunteers at the night shelter
Last night volunteers from the Merton Night Shelter prepared the evening meal for 14 guests, served food and ate together in the foyer of the church before bedding down for the night together.
Those on the morning shift prepared breakfast at one of the last sessions of the shelter for this year which opens through the winter.
It is due to re-open in December.
Simon Williams, housing director of Merton Council taking part in Sleep Easy in Wimbledon last year
Tonight an annual Sleep Easy sleep out, organised by YMCA London South West (YMCA LSW) in partnership with the Everyday Church in Kingston, Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness and Faith in Action, will see volunteers rough it for charity.
YMCA LSW said according to a quarterly survey conducted by The Greater London Authority (GLA), 2,565 people were recorded as sleeping rough in London on the average night between October and December last year.
This was an increase of 13 per cent on the same period the year before.
Matthew Campbell, 24, will take part tonight. Some years ago, he became homeless and had to sleep rough.
He said: "When school ended I didn’t really know what to do. I kind of just drifted, and found myself without anywhere to go or anything to do.
"Becoming homeless was an eye-opener, that’s when I realised I needed to get myself sorted out."
With the help of YMCA LSW, Matthew got himself back on track. He is now studying for a degree in youth work at university.
Recently he was awarded Youth Ambassador of the Year in the south east region for the Prince’s Trust, a charity he came in contact with through the YMCA.
Councillor Charlie Chirico has been volunteering for the night shelter and helped prepare food last night.
Coun Chirico said: "I have met some incredible people, other volunteers who have also been at the shelter and of course, our guests.
"The experience has been truly rewarding and I would encourage Merton residents to get involved and participate in this vital service that caters for some of the most vulnerable people in our borough over the coldest time of the year."
Shas Sheehan, Merton’s parliamentary spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats is looking for sponsorship for taking part in tonight’s YMCA LSW sleep out.
Sponsor her by visiting the website on http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ShasSheehan.
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