Paul McFarland writes about his experience for CEO Sleepout. This is Paul’s second night out with us, supporting Scotscare – the charity for Scots in London.
1730: I’m all packed and ready to go. Forecast keeps changing – rain no longer likely, temp around 10ºC but take no chances; layer upon layer to sleep in later. Trouble is … in a mad moment I promised some who donated so generously last year that this time I’d add a degree of difficulty. Homeless people don’t generally drive to their shelter… they walk. Lord’s is 4 miles from home, give or take. But I can’t carry that pack – twice as big/heavy as it should be as the only mat and sleeping bag at home are the double size everything the boys took to festivals. Great if you’re taking your girlfriend in the summer. Solution – Sarah takes the bags to Lord’s, parks car and comes back with the keys.
1731: So we’re now lugging the stuff from house to car; guy with sleeping bag comes up to me. “Are you homeless?” He’s asking, not me. Is it my choice of clothes, the week’s stubble (left on for effect); I burble something about one night only, for @CEO Sleepout. Raising money for the wonderful people at ScotsCare. Too taken aback to ask useful questions like so how long have you been on the streets and where are you sleeping tonight.
1800: Through Shepherd’s Bush, up Holland Park, left at Notting Hill, down the hill to Westbourne Grove. The (happily) light drizzle is cooling; lengthening my stride to cover the distance, the walk isn’t quite the evening stroll it might have been. Boutique after boutique; early Christmas shoppers beat the crowds; what does my truly homeless doppelganger think of all this utterly out of reach luxury, and the thousands of Londoners who can afford it?
1820: Paddington, still dreich.
1850: Little Venice – goodness, am quite close and so quick. Fortunately (for my deep-seated need to suffer), several body parts, and not only those that need surgery, start to moan, I’m cycling-fit but for me this is along walk.
1900: The Grace Gates: made good time … and am early. It’s supposed to be beginning now so something’s not ready. Gateman directs me next door to the Lord’s Tavern – Everyone else is waiting there. Long walk – pub – beer – logical sequence. But I’ve promised myself a dry night; as in no alcohol at least. Given the traumatic role it plays in the homeless community it seems completely inappropriate tonight; friends are bemused – never seen me on 0% beer before.
1930: We are finally let in, drop our bags – yes I’d carried my rucksack – what’s in the car can wait. What can’t wait are the delicious broccoli soup and bread, courtesy of Lord’s who give up the venue for free and staff it all night. Return for seconds…
2000: Gather in a big room. .. is it the famous Long Room, no, it can’t be; hug from the amazing Bianca (big fan of my son’s band) and as CEO of CEO Sleepout, she motivates us all, introduces the streets-to-no-longer stories of those who been there, survived and with the help of wonderful charities, got out and built contented and meaningful lives.
We’re here to raise money so more can be helped. It’s not just about giving someone shelter – they need safety, support, mentoring, housing, work, opportunities, encouragement. When we see people sleeping rough, often rightly imputing a drug/drink habit, we don’t see the journey that led to the streets. Escape from violence and abuse, loss of work, then of home, then of any remaining friends offering sofa-surfing. A lifestyle choice? Really? For me tonight IS a lifestyle choice; tonight I sleep out; yesterday I was in a cosy home surrounded by loving family, a home with cupboards and fridge full of food…and – I know I’ll be back there in just 12 hours.
Looked round the room, can’t see anyone who looks older than me…
2100: Time to leave the warm. Discreetly fetch bags from car. Team photos, then splinter into small groups looking for a nice spot. Option 1: stretch out on concrete between rows of seats; can’t see an option 2. Not many CEOs and business leaders (that’s me, I guess) go to bed quite this early, so plenty of time to get your bedding sorted and then chill (literally) with friends, colleagues, all these new folk too. All very British – can’t talk to strangers unless there a crisis to talk about. Only alternative is dive into social media, make sure absolutely bloody everyone knows how awful this is really going to be so they DONATE. (My “earnings” almost double in the 12 hours since leaving home). Hot tea is served…
2200: Quite mild across London; radio promised 10O. But not at the top of the Tavern stand. The back wall is four foot high with a massive gap to the roof; cricket on a June afternoon? Soft, cooling breeze at your back…
Not at 3am in November… They didn’t measure temp from up here. And that’s not a breeze; it’s wind. Still, a bit of shelter between the rows of seats where we cram in. Slowly folk will settle. I hope.
There are great charities here and a few hundred of us raising money. I’ve just checked my phone and you’ve all smashed the target I set! £4k in donations and Gift Aid on top. I’ll revise the target! Sleep well all!! And thank you!
0100: Time to stop blethering and settle. Got torch and book. Orwell’s Down and Out in London and Paris – I know, how posy, but I haven’t read it since at 16 I abandoned school and family (by arrangement, no trauma…) and went to look for work and to better my French. Paris first, then Brussels. But were weren’t in the EU; I was unemployable. Freedom of movement came a year later. And was taken away again. So I wound up in a bedsit in Clapham; job packing cheese in the Farringdon Road… So I wasn’t homeless but as I trudged the streets trying to get work, I met for the first time many who were. Orwell can make you laugh while telling you tragic tales.
0130: Torch off. Lights stay on though.
0240: Turn over and bang knee and elbow on something. Awake. Which means I have been asleep! And unlike last year it’s.. QUIET! No sirens! No helicopters… soon asleep again.
0410: Tried to roll over – space is about 90 cm (3ft in old money) which isn’t bad except for the raised seats either side so you can’t, as in a proper bed, stretch sideways, dangle bits over the edge… like goat class on the red eye, except you are at least flat. Check for aches and pains – not bad, till both legs cramp as I try to stand up!
Not so sure the second cup of tea was a good idea. it’s a walk; we’re high up over cover point, toilets are ground level where a right-hander would slash a four or six over second slip. (Fitbit says 1,500 steps return trip! Surely not …) But HOT WATER awaits; if you hold the inside of your wrists under a hot tap, the heated blood seems to circulate right through you in minutes, Bliss; AND, it works in reverse – hot day, cold tap, cool body. Oh, OK, you did know that.
0425: Back in my coffin. Pillow is WET… heavy dew I guess… ambient noise level is rising … the first hint of daylight over the Compton and Edrich stand, London waking up, traffic begins down St John’s Wood Road…but, sleep again I presume, because next thing I know…
0540: Awake! now it is noisy – lorries hurtling along down below, a hubbub as sleepers – and those who didn’t – rise, start packing up, exchanging war stories, moaning and laughing together. So I might as well. In the space and in this light, no sense trying to cram everything neatly back into the bags; after all I only have to lug it as far as the car, not carry it round all day.
0630: Hot tea and a bacon butty from the Raid Response Team – bliss!
And now … I’ve slept somewhat but am stiff and achy ; not all the moving (so to speak) body parts (and not only the ones due for surgery) enjoyed the cramped space on cold concrete as the dew formed, nor the four-mile walk from home.
But, did it!
And with my friends Shona, Jessica, Rebecca, David and Matthew from Scots in London we’ve raised over £30k, and still counting, much needed for ScotsCare. Overall the event raised around £280,000!
For us to give up a night was indeed a lifestyle choice… and we’ll do it again as long as people escaping poverty, abuse and homelessness are sleeping rough. Tonight I’ll catch up on my sleep in a comfy bed in a warm house surrounded by family.
So yes, I do know how lucky I am.
All my donors are amazing: I will thank each and every one the next few days – unless you are Anon and haven’t owned up to me yet!
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Paul-McFarland1
CEO Sleepout UK Runs these events is cities all over the UK
https://scotscare.com/ As the Royal Scottish Corporation, been helping poor and homeless Scots since the first ones followed James VI to England after 1603, expecting streets paved with gold.
Paul McFarland
November 2023