Emma Neal, Laura Sawyer, and Carly Synnøve joined a city-wide Sleep Out to raise funds and awareness for One25, gaining a glimpse into the harsh realities faced daily by women experiencing homelessness.

On Friday, the 10th of October, after weeks of raising money, Laura, Carly, and Emma from the TWSS team partook in a ‘Sleep Out’ for One25, a Bristol-based charity which helps to support women who street sex work. Some examples of services they offer include their outreach van, which is in use seven nights a week with volunteers and staff alike providing hot drinks, food, and support to Bristol’s most vulnerable, as well as their health hub service, where women can receive access to healthcare and a warm meal.

These services are vital in ensuring the women are looked out for, and could not be maintained without hardworking volunteers and donations to the charity. Also taking part in the Sleep Out were teams from fellow homelessness charities InHope and Bristol Soup Run Trust, forming a supportive group who came together for the night in the united cause of raising funds to tackle homelessness in Bristol.

As we laid down to sleep for the night, it couldn’t help but be thought that for the people who have no choice and have to do this every night, this must be a nightmare, especially as the nights get colder, wetter, and darker. Health issues, harassment, and a lack of government support reinforce the status of homelessness to not be a desirable life circumstance, and for the women One25 supports, rough-sleeping is often a horrible reality.

It was clear that our safely simulated environment was far from the extent of the actual lived reality for so many people on the streets – our setup was in a gated church garden, with multiple chaperones and first aiders onsite, as well as a kettle for making tea and an indoor toilet. Despite this, the night still couldn’t be described as particularly pleasant. The soundtrack accompanying our attempts to fall asleep consisted of numerous wailing emergency service sirens, loud drunken shouting and swearing, and bass-heavy music pouring out of bars and clubs and reverberating through the ground.

Just across from our spot was the affectionately nicknamed “Piss Alley”, meaning at various points throughout the night, groups would stagger around the corner to partake in this sacred drunken ritual. Most overwhelmingly, it was so incredibly cold. Despite our many layers – thermals, jumpers, hoodies, coats, scarves, gloves – we would still find ourselves waking up numerous times throughout the night entirely numb. Yet, this is still nothing in comparison to the freezing temperatures that wait in stall for those who will sleep on the streets for the upcoming winter season.

At 06:30, we packed up and parted ways, enjoying the privilege of being able to return home to our warm beds in houses. Our one novelty night was officially over, everyone returning back to their normal day-to-day lives, not having to worry about where to sleep that night, whether their safety would be ensured, or what tomorrow would look like. This cannot be said for people whose reality this actually is.

Wealth disparity, now more than ever, really highlights the obscene inequalities prevalent in the world at the moment. How is it, when some people have so much, other people can have so little? Everyone is closer to homelessness than they realise. Socially, there is a need for class consciousness, against political rhetoric that others distinct ethnic or minority groups; uniting together as the labouring class; and reforming economic society in order to create a fairer world in which to live in.

Even our small glimpse at what just the one night outside is like pales in comparison to the frequently dangerous days and nights faced by those who often have no other choice. The work charities such as One25 do are vital lifelines, providing support and all-important connections for vulnerable people. So far, TWSS has raised over £550, including over £120 from a bake sale (collaborating with Bristol Baking Society) that has been transferred directly to One25. Our JustGiving page is still open until the end of December – please consider donating if you are able to.

If you would like to fundraise, volunteer, or support One25, email amelie.snelgrove@one25.org.uk.