Recent life events have taken me close-up to despair, breakdown and addiction in a way that I could never have anticipated or even imagined. My cosy, conventional 'bubble' of a world was rocked to its foundations. With supportive family, friends and colleagues I was never anywhere close to hitting the streets. But I have had a massive change in perspective, a major wake-up call that life is not the straight line I had always presumed, and of how easily the unexpected can totally derail you, however strong you think you are.

I've signed-up to sleep out for one night because I now see how frail we are, and that for those not as well-supported as I was privileged to be, difficult life events can result in homelessness and all the accompanying complications which create a downward spiral. Whilst one night outside does not begin to scratch the surface of rough living and what homeless people go through, if it helps raise awareness of the problem and cash to comfort those who are amongst our most vulnerable, then great.

Spitalfields Crypt Trust is an East London charity which supports people out of homelessness and addiction. Across East London, they have a 16-bed recovery house and Training and Development centre, a Housing First project, eight charity shops and two social enterprises.

To mark World Homelessness Day they're hosting a Big Sleep Out on October 10th at Christ Church Spitalfields, where the charity was started 58 years ago.

SCT and a group of dedicated fundraisers will be braving the cold for one night. Whilst it will never compare to what those who sleep rough go through, SCT want to raise awareness of the dreadful realities facing those hundreds of people experiencing homelessness and addiction on our streets.

Every penny raised will contribute to their work combatting homelessness and addiction.

Thank you!