Cambridge and Wisbech sleep out events planned on Saturday
'From bad to worse'
"It very much brings home the relationship between homelessness locally and the plight of people camped out in Calais and Dunkirk," Walston said."As a homeless person you will be very marginalised, people will not treat you very well and you will suffer from poor mental and physical health."Ms Walston said the oldest person taking part in the challenge, which is in its seventh year, was 85 years old.It was planned on the same night another sleep out was due to take place on the streets of Wisbech, organised by charities Feed Fenland and Street Supplies.Feed Fenland founder George Broughton said the region's homelessness issues were "going from bad to worse".
As of December 2024, there were 224 people homeless in the Fenland district - a 32% increase on the year before."It's been a really rough winter for rough sleepers locally," Mr Broughton said."I think it's important that local people and services start showing solidarity and change their perspective of homelessness."Mr Broughton added the prospect of sleeping rough for the night was "nerve-wracking" but stressed he was joined by a "fantastic group of volunteers".
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