Exeter College students sleep out for charity

STUDENTS from Exeter College are having a sponsored Sleep Out Event at Exeter Livestock Market as part of their fundraising efforts for Nightstop Devon.

It will take place on Friday, October 19, starting at 8pm. Nightstop Devon aims to provide safe emergency accommodation for homeless young people aged 16-25 in the homes of approved volunteers and provide ongoing support and housing advice to young people.

Last year college students raised £11,000 for Children’s Hospice South West by holding a charity auction, bikeathon, 15-mile walk, sponsored jailbreak, fashion show and fetes.

New student union president Ross Stanley is hoping to raise even more for Nightstop, which was chosen as the college’s charity of the year by the student council. For health and safety reasons the students have had to find a venue they can lock for the sponsored sleep-out, so they will be sleeping under the stars at the Matford Livestock Market. The sponsored sleep is the finale to the union’s Raise and Give (Rag) Week which started on Monday, October 15.
Events throughout the week included room raids, a fancy dress competition and a jailbreak. Students will spend the night out to experience for themselves the realities of rough sleeping.