A team of reporters for this newspaper braved temperatures of -4C at the weekend, when they joined the community and took to the streets for a sponsored sleep out.

An estimated 125 people took part in the Sleep Easy event in Kingston on Saturday night, and more than £15,000 has been pledged by sponsors.

The night began in high spirits as paints, glue and felt tips were thrown about by excited participants in a shelter-building contest. The high spirits never dampened, but as the night wore on the stark reality of life on the streets became increasingly apparent, particularly as the temperatures dropped.

Various church and scout groups took to their cold sleeping bags to raise money for YMCA and Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness (KCAH), as did charity volunteers and councillors Bart Ricketts and Ian George.

One participant was YMCA Surbiton resident Sharon Abrahams, 48, who is also chairman of the residents’ forum there.

She said: “I was ready to commit suicide before I got place in the YMCA. When I first went there no one spoke to me. One of the staff members in Wimbledon said they thought I was autistic because my head was always down but now I talk to everyone. It’s given me so much confidence, they’re like my family.”

The youngest people taking part were Holy Cross School pupils Ava Mason Declercq and Chloe St John, both 10.

The pair raised £500 between them and said they were very proud to take part, and not scared of the cold because they had five layers of clothes on.

Slightly more unusual was Jessica Cooper, 13, a pupil at ACS Cobham International School, who had a weighted, newborn baby simulator strapped to her as part of a school project.

Miss Cooper said: “It’s only cried once so far but it’s so heavy. I didn’t realise I’d have to look after it this weekend.”

She was there with Surbiton’s Community Church, which had 14 people, including 11 youths, taking part. They raised £1,430 between them.

Leader Jenni Taylor, 25, said: “I wanted to do something that would make young people think about how people spending every day on the streets feel. It’s a good lesson for them.”

John Lewis donated soup, rolls, water and hot chocolate, with dedicated employees Louise and Lene Wood battling aches and pains to serve people through the night.

Sarah Barnes, fundraising volunteer at the YMCA, said: “This is the first time that we have run this event and we are absolutely delighted with the amount raised. It has exceeded all expectations. These funds will really help the YMCA and KCAH help people who find themselves homeless to build a brighter future. Thank you to everyone who has taken part and supported us.”