THOUSANDS of people took part in the Big Sleep Out over the weekend, and many more are running their own Wee Sleep Out events over the coming weeks, in support of homeless people.
It’s time to give them a break.
The criticism levelled at the events – that it’s not a true reflection of what it means to be homeless, that people are enjoying themselves while rough sleepers endure real misery – misses the point.
In a school hall in the west end of Glasgow a couple of weeks ago, a group of third year girls explained to me why they were holding their own Wee Sleep Out event – an overnight party in the gym, complete with dance workshops, dodgeball and music.
Kesiana Bajrami, Maddison Ford and Sienna McHugh are articulate, educated and socially aware young women – and they are well aware of the criticisms attached to the Wee Sleep Out.
Sienna said she struggled, at first, with the idea she and her friends could have fun “sleeping out” while others had to do it out of necessity.
“I wasn’t sure we should be having a party when people are stuck on the streets and desperate and freezing cold,” she admits. “But it’s about the impact the money we raise can have. If we have fun doing it, then that’s okay, because the money will make a difference to people who need it.”
Kesiana was blunt. “It’s not just a sleepover party. The point is to make a lot of money to end homelessness,” she said. Maddison added: “It doesn’t matter if you can’t give a lot, even if you can give something then you are helping to fight the problem. At least you are doing something about it.”
And that’s the point. At least they are doing something about it.
Read more: Mini-me fashion? Give me a break.
The World’s Big Sleep Out campaign was created by Social Bite, the Scottish charity and sandwich shop that is working to end homelessness.
It raised £100,000 last year and more than 5000 young people took part. This year, the charity is on course to double the number of participants.
Scotland’s homelessness figures make appalling reading – recent research suggests about 700 people sleep rough every night on our country’s streets.
Read more: Big girl's blouse and other unsatisfactory insults
If we really are to end this shameful state of affairs, educating Scotland’s young people on the issue of homelessness and encouraging them to have a say in cultural and political change, is essential.
It starts with events like the Wee Sleep Out – so rather than condemn these young people for taking part, applaud their willingness to drive that change.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here