Updated on Jan 24th 2013 at 11:10 PM from the JustGiving API

On Saturday night I volunteered on the SOS Bus, it was a fairly quiet evening, but sub zero temperatures. I was talking to 4 homeless people that were on the high street despite the cold, and went searching for one other that is known to have an infected injury. Chalkwell Methodist in addition to those we met, put up 27 more homeless that night, 3 of which were under 25. I am starting to see myself the scale of homelessness in Southend. Please help raise as much as possible.

Updated on Jan 22nd 2013 at 8:25 PM from the JustGiving API

My Nan has been a star and got £72 from her friends. Please support me to sleep rough too. Please just pick up your phone for homeless young people and Text YMCA88 £5 to 70070. Every penny raised will be matched by RBS, with gift aid your £5 donation turns into £11! Thank you.

I have been working for Southend YMCA for three years. I started before that as a volunteer. In the time I have been here, I see the difference that they make in peoples lives, from providing supported accomodation for young people that find themselves homeless to providing education and training to help them back into employment. 

The work done by a brilliant team can often be hard, some people don't recognise when they need help, but the persistance and dedication means that real differences are made in young peoples lives in Southend and the surrounding areas. In the 18 years they've been running, so many still don't know about the work they do - it's time that changed. 

Please sponsor me in taking part in this event, it will be cold, possibly wet, and not comfortable, but I will sleep rough for 12 hours so that others don't have to.