BEDDING down in paper sleeping bags on bone-hard ground, 75 hardy fundraisers endured a damp, chilly night at the Eden Project on Thursday of last week, raising much-needed funds for two South West charities.

The annual mass Sleepout raises thousands of pounds for Cornwall-based charity St Petrocs, which helps people experiencing homelessness, and The Amber Foundation, which runs three residential centres supporting young people facing complex issues including homelessness and unemployment.

The charities say the extra funds can be life-saving, especially entering an uncertain winter when the huge demand for help in the region is at its highest for several years.

With temperatures plummeting to near zero, the fundraisers got their heads down outside the Biomes after live music from solo singers Bailey Nelson, Terrie-May McNulty and Josh Curnow, and a captivating talk by acclaimed author Raynor Winn, who was suddenly made homeless in her 50s and has since written two bestselling books, The Salt Path and The Wild Silence, based on her and her husband Moth’s experiences walking the South West Coast Path while homeless. Raynor has become a great supporter of the Sleepout event.

Becky Fry, Amber’s fundraising manager, who attended with young people from the charity’s Devon centre, said: “Sleepout at Eden is unbelievably helpful. Everyone I know says that it’s special. It’s heart-warming and reflective during the evening – and then the Sleepout itself is a genuine challenge for everyone taking part.

“As a charity I don’t think our services have ever been more needed than right now. It’s not just the number of young people needing help – it’s also how complex their needs are.

“Some recent research has shown that one in four young people are unable to cope because of the pandemic. Many are at breaking point. There is uncertainty and anxiety. The young people coming to us have struggled for longer and their needs are much greater.”

Becky said that the money raised would be spent directly on Christmas activities at Amber’s centres, adding: “Christmas is a difficult time for the people we look after. This will make a big difference and help us pull out all the stops to give them the best Christmas we can and make them feel cherished and supported.”

Lois Wild, of St Petrocs, said: "We’re currently working with a growing number of people becoming homeless, the highest numbers in three years.

“Last month we worked with 101 people who were sleeping rough in Cornwall. There are increased pressures as a consequence of the pandemic and we are very concerned for the winter ahead. We have decided to start our winter provision early this year as there is no other option.”

This week’s Cornish Times, on sale in shops now, has a special feature on the valuable work of the Callington Soup Run team and other groups in feeding and helping the homeless on their regular runs in Plymouth city centre.