MORE than 100 people will shun their warm beds for a cold pavement during a fundraiser for homelessness charities in Oxford.

The annual Oxford Sleepout, held in St Clement’s Churchyard, Marston Road, tomorrow night, has raised more than £200,000 for local charities working with homeless people since it launched in 1996.

Among those turning out are Oxford Lord Mayor Mary Clarkson, more than 20 airmen and women from RAF Brize Norton, parliamentary candidates and councillors all pledging to take part.

Sister Anne Proudly CSJB, Oxford’s chaplain for the homeless, recently led a memorial service for homeless people with Oxford connections who had died in the past year.

She said: “Some died on the streets, some in hospital, some in hostels.

“It gives the other people the opportunity to do a bit more grieving and say no, we have not forgotten you and we want to light a candle for you.”

She urged people taking part in the sleepout to use the opportunity to think about the plight of the homeless.

Sister Anne said: “Homeless people are human beings too.

“They are equal in the sight of God and they have feelings and huge concerns for each other in a way that you certainly don’t get in small groups of houses where nobody ever speaks to anybody else.”

About 50 Oxford University students are expected to join the event.

Many of the homeless who attend will be raising sponsorship money to help the agencies that support them.

People can also pay £20 to sleep in their own bed, and mini-sleepouts are being organised across the country.

Among those staging mini-sleepouts are about 20 pupils at St Ebbe’s Primary School, Whitehouse Road.

Teacher Gawain Little said: “It is the first time the school has been involved and for most of the children, it will be the first time they have done a night’s camping.”

To find out more, visit oxfordsleepout.moonfruit.com fbardsley@oxfordmail.co.uk