MORE than 100 people swapped their beds for a night in a cold churchyard to raise up to £15,000 for homelessness charities in Oxford.

Since it was launched in 1996, the Oxford Sleepout has raised more than £200,000 for charities working with homeless people.

Among those braving the cold in St Clement’s churchyard in Marston Road on Saturday were Oxford’s Lord Mayor Mary Clarkson, and 11 airmen and women from RAF Brize Norton.

People also paid £20 to sleep in their own beds, and mini-sleepouts were organised, including one involving 20 pupils at St Ebbe’s Primary School, in Whitehouse Road, South Oxford.

Lesley Dewhurst, who runs the Oxford Night Shelter in Luther Street, said: “The sleepout went very well and there were about 110 people taking part.

“They all stayed overnight in the churchyard and a circus skills club came from Oxford Brookes University to entertain people with their fire-juggling.

“It started to rain at about 3am, so we all got a bit wet, but it could have been a lot worse, considering the weather on Friday night.

“For breakfast, everyone was offered porridge which had been prepared by staff at the Gatehouse centre.”

Ms Dewhurst said the sleepout had become a good way to get people thinking about what homeless people face.

She said: “A few homeless people also came along to talk to people, and that added to the learning process for those taking part.

“The money raised will be spent on the extras that our service users need. This could be train tickets, clothes, toiletries or a starter pack for someone moving into their own flat.”

Gawain Little, a teacher at St Ebbe’s, said: “Nineteen nine- and 10-year-olds camped near the school to raise £1,100.

“It was quite exciting – but we talked about what it would be like to have to do it every night.”

Senior Aircraftwoman Diana Wall, 25, who is based at Brize Norton, said: “I was in Iraq in 2005 and Afghanistan last year, so I have been in worse places.

“It started to rain at about 3am and, but I was snug in my sleeping bag so I wasn’t too bothered. I think we have raised about £400 and would like to come back with an even bigger team next year.”

Mrs Clarkson is the third Lord Mayor to join the sleepout, following in the footsteps of Jim Campbell and Bob Price.

She said: “It wasn’t as bad as I thought. My son Hugh, who is 12, really enjoyed it and wants to do it next year.”

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