Tonbridge ‘Sleepout’ for Porchlight

All 153 First Year pupils at Tonbridge School took part in the annual Sleepout event to support the charity, Porchlight.

Porchlight is Kent’s largest charity for homelessness and supports those who are vulnerable in the community.

Tonbridge pupils taking part in their annual ‘Sleepout’ event

The event raised £28,500, which is the most that has ever been raised from the school’s Sleepouts.

The school’s quad was filled with cardboard boxes as the House groups created their shelters for the night.

The pupils also learnt from Porchlights fundraising team about how they help support the homeless across Kent.

Pupils in the shelters they constructed for the night

Porchlight Coach, Maurice Sturgess shared his own story. He talked about how bereavement as a young man led him to addiction, but Porchlight helped him turn his life around.

The Lower Sixth got involved, setting up a soup kitchen so the younger boys could eat something warm before spending the night outside.

Tonbridge ‘Sleepout’ event

The next morning was spent completing challenges set up by the school staff and Porchlight, which aimed to highlight the ‘unfairness of life’. 

Tonbridge’s Lower Master, Josie McNeil, said: ‘I am incredibly impressed with the boys’ engagement and with the empathy they showed throughout the two days of the Sleepout experience. The benefits to them, of glimpsing just a fraction of a homeless person’s daily experience, will be lasting.’ 

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