Castlewellan sit-out helps the homeless

Castlewellan sit-out helps the homeless

22 February 2017

A STUDENT led sleep-out on the streets of Castlewellan has raised over £4,500 to help the homeless.

A group of sixth form students from St Malachy’s High School in Castlewellan were behind the idea, inspired to action after meeting a vulnerable homeless man on the streets of Belfast before Christmas.

Joined with other like-minded locals, the £4,593.08 raised has now been donated to the Welcome Organisation in Belfast, a homeless charity which provides a wide range of services for people affected by homelessness in Belfast all year round.

Members from the Castlewellan Community Partnership, St Malachy’s Girl Guides, in Castlewellan, the Pantry Foodbank, Mind Your Mate & Yourself, Donard Fundraising Group, and St Malachy’s High School students and staff also organised a hugely successful clothing donation appeal, which resulted in over 1,200 new items of clothing, sleeping bags, footware and toiletries to help the Welcome Organisation.  

Bernie Rush, a volunteer with Castlewellan Community Partnership, explained how the sleep-out on December 23 came together.

“We took our inspiration and impetus to initiate Castlewellan’s inaugural ‘Help Our Homeless Appeal and Sleep-out’, because of the selfless act of kindness and humanity shown by students Pearse McCann, Tamzin Brannigan, Summer Brannigan, Caitlin Rush, Chloe Steel, Dylan Russell and Martin Burke towards a vulnerable homeless gentleman in Belfast city centre in November,” she said. 

“Instead of walking on by or turning a blind eye, these young teenagers took the time to stop and chat to the man, who was lying freezing in a doorway and then went and bought him some hot food and a beverage, which brought him to tears.  

“Meeting this dignified homeless person left an indelible impression on the pupils, so much so, that they wanted to try and do more to help others just like him, who are sleeping rough in Belfast.”

With an interest in taking meaningful action Bernie said the suggestion of a cross-community sleep-out took hold.

“With each passing week, we had people volunteering to take part in the sleep-out after promoting it on social media, to such an extent that at one stage we had 19 people all crammed into the bus shelter in Upper Square Castlewellan on December 23 to experience what it feels like to sleep rough with no roof over our heads or home comforts — despite Storm Barbara threatening to send us flying down Mil Hill,” she said.

Bernie said it was all worthwhile, however, after witnessing the donated items from the general public being donated to the Welcome Centre.

“It was a heart-wrenching experience that really touched me and one I’ll never forget, to see so many homeless people inside their -in centre being cared for so compassionately,” she said. “It made everything that everyone had given us to help them us so worthwhile.  A small donation of £3 helps the Welcome Organisation provide three hot meals to a homeless person.  

“We set ourselves a very humble target of raising £300, never in our wildest dreams did we expect our beyond generous local people to completely overwhelm us with their staggering donations of £4593, which translates into 4,953 hot meals.”

Lucia Rice, leader of St. Malachy’s Girl Guides, also thanked local people and businesses for their donations.

“It would be a huge understatement to say we are completely overwhelmed by the unbelievable kindness, support and donations we have received from the general public and everyone who collectively helped us in any way,” she said. “It was extremely humbling to see how much our small initiative touched the hearts of so many in our communities, from our young guides and students to adults from all ages and backgrounds, going the extra mile to help our homeless.”

Kieran Hughes from The Welcome Organisation, added: “Without the amazing support from everyone who took part in the sleep-out and donated items towards the appeal, The Welcome Organisation wouldn’t be able to provide the potentially life-saving support and assistance desperately needed by men and women affected daily by homelessness.”