On Friday 26 June 2026 I will be taking part in The Big Sleep in St Paul’s Cathedral’s churchyard, raising money for Alabaré, a charity supporting people facing homelessness, including veterans rebuilding their lives.

This is not a cause I have chosen at random. It genuinely feels as though this event was made for me. And sleeping rough will be a new experience for me.

Veterans make up a relatively small proportion of the UK’s homeless population, but the numbers are rising and deeply concerning, with an estimated 200–300 veterans sleeping rough at any one time. Alabaré responds in a practical and human way: providing homes, restoring hearts through trauma-informed support, and empowering minds with pathways back to independence.

There is also a real Gibraltar connection. Alabaré has previously brought veterans it supports to Gibraltar to work on restoration projects at Lord Airey’s Battery. That makes this more than a distant UK charity, it has already touched Gibraltar in a meaningful and visible way.

Professionally, I founded Chestertons in Gibraltar, now the largest estate agency on the Rock, and my working life revolves around homes and property. Homelessness sits at the complete opposite end of that spectrum. Supporting a charity that helps people move from homelessness back to having a permanent roof over their head feels both relevant and important.

There is a personal dimension too. Alabaré’s Christian foundation resonates with me as someone who attends the Anglican Cathedral in Gibraltar. And St Paul’s itself is deeply meaningful: I sang there once as a child, my university graduation ceremony was there in 1988, and I have returned for services over the years.

Finally, the date carries extra significance, we will wake up outside of St Paul’s on Armed Forces Day, making it a powerful moment to support those who have served but now need help.

I am setting an initial target of £5,000 (with the hope of going beyond that).

If Gibraltar friends, Bitesize readers, clients and businesses can support me, I would be hugely grateful.

I will be paying my own costs of attending the event.

Thank you.