Veterans to use land for sleep out

Eight ex-forces veterans from the Barnoldswick and Earby area will be giving up their beds for a night to raise awareness of the issue of veteran homelessness.

The Great Tommy Sleep Out will take place on the green opposite the war memorial in Barnoldswick on the night of 23 March to raise money for The Royal British Legion Industries and draw attention to the fact that an estimated 6,000 veterans are homeless in the UK right now.

Mark Dunstan, a member of The West Craven Veterans Group and a committee member of The Barnoldswick and Earby Royal British Legion, said: “I will be joining seven other ex-forces veterans when we will be swapping our beds for sleeping bags and tents for the night.

“We are coming together to support each other as members of the veterans group; to put ourselves at a little discomfort for one night to support fellow veterans who are less fortunate than us and are often sleeping outside without a choice.

The Great Tommy Sleep Out is an annual, national event, but this is our first time joining in, and we are looking to make this an annual event.”

Pendle Borough Council’s Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Kevin Salter, added: “This is a great event and cause that we naturally want to support. Providing these veterans with somewhere to carry out their fundraising event is our way of doing our bit to help.

"The Great Tommy Sleep Out is a fundraising challenge that is designed to support ex-service personnel who find themselves without a roof over their head. People who take part sleep outside for as many nights as they want to, in a tent or directly beneath the stars.

“The event is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by servicemen and women who find themselves without a home when they return to civilian life.

“The money raised will help to pay for emergency accommodation, welfare and healthcare support, employment training and work experience to help vulnerable veterans on the road to independence after leaving the Armed Forces.”

If you would like to sponsor these West Craven veterans, visit: www.justgiving.com/team/WestCravenVeterans