I am a Trustee of a little known but very effective charity called Alabaré whose primary focus is supporting the homeless, providing them with shelter whilst getting them back on their feet.

Of the c.300 bedspaces throughout the South, South West and Wales, Alabaré has 90 bedspaces dedicated to helping vulnerable veterans move forward and break the cycle of homelessness.

Alabaré welcomes veterans from across the country with a small number coming directly from London each year, sign-posted by other veteran focused charities, with many more passing through London as part of their homelessness journey.

70% of the funding needed to run Alabaré’s entire operation is provided through statutory funding but almost all of that needed for veteran support (£2.3m this year) must be raised through fundraising.

We are enormously grateful to the Dean at St Paul’s Cathedral who has kindly agreed to allow us to hold Alabaré’s flagship fundraising event, the BIG Sleep on 26th June 2026, in the gardens of St Paul’s Cathedral.

To make the challenge more poignant, I will be cycling home to Salisbury immediately after the Big Sleep at St Paul’s on Armed Forces Day, a distance of just over 100 miles.

Your sponsorship will do much to raise funds in support of Alabaré’s homeless veterans. Thank you so much for you donation.

Richard Winstanley OBE