RCN Scotland director to join sleep-out in support of homeless
RCN Scotland director Theresa Fyffe will join thousands of fundraisers this weekend for a charity sleep-out in Edinburgh in support of homeless people.
An estimated 9,000 people will be sleeping under the stars in the city’s Princes Street Gardens public park on 9 December in aid of charity Social Bite and to draw attention to the problems facing homeless people in Scotland.
According to research by homeless charity Crisis, homelessness in Scotland is predicted to rise by more than 53% in the next 25 years if current economic policies continue.
In June, Edinburgh City Council released figures showing that homeless people in Edinburgh are dying at a rate of more than one every three weeks.
Alarming statistics
Ms Fyffe, who will be accompanied by three RCN colleagues in the sleep-out, said: ‘Statistics on homelessness in Scotland are hugely alarming and concerning.
‘For me, and three colleagues in the RCN Scotland team, when the opportunity came up to support the action on homelessness by the local social enterprise Social Bite, we knew we had to rise to the challenge.
‘While I have spent many a night under canvas, the thought of sleeping rough in the middle of the Scottish winter is definitely daunting. For me it will only be one night – for the hundreds of people living on the streets in Scotland it’s their daily routine.’
The RCN recently signed a deal to sponsor the jerkins worn by Big Issue vendors and general secretary Janet Davies called on the UK governments to ensure homeless people have access to primary care.
Further information
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