Pictures: Youth group sleeps out for Stonepillow

Sponsored camp out event by NCS group based at the Phoenix Centre, Bognor for Stonepillow. Seb Rajan-Iyer. Pic Steve Robards SR1623636 SUS-160408-180116001

“It was superb,” he said. “The young people were amazing.”

The 20 hour event, outside the Phoenix Centre, was held as a ‘social action’ by the group as part of the National Citizen Service project and was all lead by the young people themselves.

Dexter explained: “They contacted Stonepillow and got all the permissions they needed.

Sponsored camp out event by NCS group based at the Phoenix Centre, Bognor for Stonepillow. Pic Steve Robards SR1623614 SUS-160408-180004001

“They were really proactive, going to Bensons and Tesco for donations, and pulling it all together.”

Driven by seeing the split locally, between ‘the affluent’ and those who go without, Dexter revealed his group wanted ‘to experience what it is like to be in other people’s position’.

“They visited Stonepillow and saw what was there,” he said.

“For the young people it was about understanding what a homeless person has to go through just to try and fit in and to survive.

Sponsored camp out event by NCS group based at the Phoenix Centre, Bognor for Stonepillow. Dexter Kunaka and Rhonda Stowe wscc (NCS Leader). Pic Steve Robards SR1623620 SUS-160408-180018001

The event also saw a visit from Bognor mayor Pat Dillon, who opened the sleep out, and from Danny Dawes of Grandad’s Front Room, who Dexter said deserved a special mention.

“He was really interested in what we were doing and had so many ideas.

“We are definitely going to take them forward.”

The group also enjoyed a celebratory breakfast after a hard night with ‘unforgiving conditions’.

Money raised from the sponsored sleep out will go to help Stonepillow.

For information on the charity visit www.stonepillow.org.uk. More on NCS at www.ncsyes.co.uk.