Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.

6 Explorer Scouts (and some of the leaders) from Cetendone ESU, Cheddington, Bucks, slept rough in the grounds of St Albans Abbey on 4th December 2009, raising money for Watford New Hope Trust to help fund their work helping homeless and vulnerable people. 

As you can see from the photos, the sleeping accommodation was,  um,  basic and we didn't actually get much sleep as they didn't turn the floodlights out. Although it was not as cold as we expected, it was still chilly and it rained - although luckily it was only gentle rain, not a torrential downpour.  Sleeping in plastic bags and with old newspapers to smooth out the bumps in the gound is not very comfortable, especially when you find your plastic bag has leaked.  Still we only had to sleep out for one night, and Macdonald at 08.00 the next morning was at the very least dry and warm.

The money we raise goes to Watford New Hope Trust, who, at their day centre, serve up to 70 lunches a day and up to 250 cups of tea and coffee They also run a night shelter, which provides 12 rooms for people who have nowhere else to go to get a nights' sleep - something most of us take for granted. So your donation makes a real and immediate difference. 

They also run projects to help homeless people get back on their feet -there's a furniture repair and renovation workshop, a market gardening project as well other things to help them get on with their lives.  You can look at their website to see what they are doing - www.watfordnewhope.org.uk/html/projects. 

Watford New Hope Trust are working with the homeless all year round. Can you help by donating to some money to them this Christmas?

£100 supports a homeless person in the Community Home for the 12 days of Christmas. 

£21 covers a 1-to-1 debt counselling session (people are sometimes homeless because they are in debt)

£12 pays for Christmas dinner-and fellowship-for 12 people. 

£5 provides a bed, and an evening meal, for a homeless purson for the night.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - we raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.  Thank you.

We hope you have had warm and comfortable Christmas and can look forward to 2010 - HAPPY NEW YEAR

Charlie Hale; Dani Kalis; Cat Lee; Fred Parkinson;James Try; Ian Wainwright; James Holliday; Charlie Storr; Sarah Hale;Iain Holliday James Holliday.