A group of 35 sixth formers from Queen Elizabeth’s School in Wimborne showed their dedication to combating youth homelessness by participating in the YMCA’s Sleep Easy initiative. Braving the cold, the students constructed makeshift shelters from cardboard and plastic sheets, spending a night sleeping rough on their school grounds. Their efforts successfully raised over £2,000 through their JustGiving page.
The event, part of an annual initiative by YMCA Bournemouth, aimed to provide participants with a glimpse of the realities of sleeping rough while raising crucial funds for the charity’s work in Dorset.
Notably, the students’ creativity was recognized as local funeral business O’Hara Funerals awarded Amazon vouchers to the most impressive shelter constructions. Additionally, Domino’s Pizza provided support by donating hot food during the event, boosting the spirits of the participants.
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Thomas Neill, headteacher at Queen Elizabeth’s School, expressed pride in the students, stating, “We are very proud of our sixth formers for taking part in our QE Sleep Easy 2025 event and for raising so much for this worthy cause. We hope that this experience has helped them to develop a sense of empathy and social responsibility towards the homeless, in line with our Christian values as a school of community, respect, kindness, and love. Thanks also to Dominos and O’Hara Funerals for helping and encouraging our students with this challenging experience.”