I took part in my second annual sleep out to support Wiltshire’s homeless on Friday 21st March.

Around 40 people left the comfort of their beds and chose to spend the night sleeping rough in the cloisters of Salisbury cathedral.

See picture of my humble ‘home’ for the night to the right.

Armed with a roll mat, four layers of clothes (including my skiing salopettes) a sleeping bag and some hot food and drink we all bedded in for the night.

It was pretty unnerving as I woke at one point to realise I wasn’t alone and technically lying across flagstones and someone’s grave! I tossed and turned throughout much of the night, as the wind showed little mercy in howling its way around the cloisters and the cathedral bells chiming every hour only served as a constant reminder that I still wasn’t asleep!

At 7am and feeling somewhat bedraggled I retreated home to grab a few hours power napping. I’ve never been so glad to see my mattress!

Comfortable it wasn’t but great to support a local charity and do something different.

Next year’s sleep out will be Friday 13th March 2015 and it’d be fantastic if some more JCI members could to join me then.

You can learn more about the charity at www.alabare.co.uk or download their leaflet from this event here.

Alice Biggar

Membership Director