When you receive an invitation from the Lady Provost you really cannot say no. Even if that invitation is to spend a chilly night out at Edinburgh Zoo where I will be terrified in the dark amid all that snuffling and grunting (and then there are the animals of course!) the answer simply had to be yes.
This night out with a difference takes place on 24 September when I will sleep over at the Zoo to help raise funds and awareness for the Lady Provost’s two charities, Rock Trust and Four Square. The Lady Provost is determined to bring homelessness to the forefront of our minds and to do something about it by raising as much money as she possibly can.
Elaine Brand, Lady Provost of the City of Edinburgh said: “These local charities have a clear mission to prevent homelessness, particularly amongst young people, and to deliver front line services across the city.”
You can read more about both charities on their websites http://www.rocktrust.org/ and http://www.foursquare.org.uk/.
The Lady Provost continued: “Specifically, I am holding a Sleep Out fundraiser on the evening of Thursday 24 September when Chris West, Chief Executive, has very kindly offered the Zoo as the venue for this key event. Participants will be expected to endure Autumn temperatures by sleeping out overnight with the sounds of the Zoo inhabitants.
“We can never truly experience homelessness from one night in the cold, but I hope our eyes can be opened to what it is like to spend a night outside and that we can raise awareness of the difficult winter that lies ahead for our homeless people.”
Any ideas about what to pack in the rucksack would be welcomed!
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
Clearly, you will require sustenance, Phyllis. Some chocolate biscuits, perhaps. I recommend Penguins. Or some monkey nuts…(that’s enough zoo jokes – Ed)
Oh ho ho ho…. ! I may need several layers of clothes too!!
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