Pendle veterans take part in sleep out

 

Pendle Borough Council’s Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Kevin Salter, and Earby and Coates Councillor David Hartley – who are both ex-forces veterans - will be joining other ex-forces veterans from the Barnoldswick and Earby area as they swap their beds for sleeping bags for the night.

The Great Tommy Sleep Out will take place on the green opposite the war memorial in Barnoldswick on the night of 29 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 District Royal British Legion, said: “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. We took part for the first time last year and vowed to make it an annual event.”

Councillor Kevin Salter, added: “This is a fundraising challenge designed to support ex-service personnel who find themselves without a roof over their head.

“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: https://www.justgiving.com/team/westcravenveterans2025?utm_medium=TE&utm_source=CL