Colchester Conservative Association

Will Quince braved the coldest night of the year to sleep rough to raise awareness of the plight of homelessness and raise money for Colchester Night Shelter.  The following is the report from Colchester’s Daily Gazette paper who reported on Will’s efforts to raise money for this fantastic charity.  Their website is www.gazette-news.co.uk

As reported in Colchester’s Daily Gazette:

A PROSPECTIVE MP stood by his promise to spend a night sleeping rough…and was cursing his luck when he chose the coldest night of the year.

Will Quince said he was touched by the plight of homeless people when he volunteered at Colchester Night Shelter.

He put his money where his mouth is and spent a night on the town’s High Street.

Braving freezing temperatures and armed with a sleeping bag, Mr Quince sat in the doorway of the British Heart Foundation shop from 6.30pm on Saturday until 6.30am the next day.

Temperatures plunged to as low as minus four degrees celsius.

Mr Quince said the experience had been a real “eye opener”.

He met homeless people, who offered him advice on keeping warm and surviving the tough conditions.

He was offered money and food by passers-by.

He said: “One woman offered us £20, which we asked her to donate to the SOS Bus and many people were really kind, but after about midnight, the atmosphere started to change.

“There was a lot of nastiness and people were walking past being abusive towards us.

“Most homeless people will stay away from the High Street after midnight and find a stairwell in a car park to get some peace.

“I was out there for 12 hours and it was absolutely horrendous. It was bitterly cold.”

Mr Quince raised £1,100 for the Colchester Night Shelter.

He continued: “After volunteering at the night shelter, I promised I would do something to help them.

“I was really touched by what they do there and I met many homeless people, all of whom were good people who had just had some bad luck.

“Without the shelter, people would have to sleep rough and the nights I was volunteering, people were getting turned away because there weren’t enough beds.

n Anyone who would like to donate to Colchester Night Shelter, in Alexandra Road, can call 01206 549885 or e-mail pernille.petersen@colchester nightshelter.org.uk.