Four local charities have gotten together to host a 'Big Sleep Out' event that aims to raise £20,000 - here's all you need to know about the event.

Dons Local Action Group, Tooting Community Kitchen, Faith in Action and Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness have joined forces to host the fundraising event, hoping to help tackle homelessness.

On November 27 the event will take place at the new Plough Lane, where both the men's and women's teams play their home games at.

Participants will join the CEO of the club, Joe Palmer, and the co-founder of the Dons Local Action Group, Xavier Wiggins, reports the South West Londoner.

Homelessness is an issue that needs to be addressed, especially after the pandemic, and Wiggins said: "The evening will be a reality check for all of us, but it is for an extremely worthwhile cause.

"These organisations have collectively helped people to break the cycle of homelessness and they continue to provide much-needed support to people who find themselves in this situation from within our community."

Darren Short, who is taking part in the Big Sleep Out added: "Homelessness is such an important cause. There are so many people struggling in our community and anything we can do to raise awareness and money for the charities can only help improve conditions for them."

In Wandsworth alone it is estimated that there are over 400 homeless adults – an increase of 24% from the previous year.

Participants will need to fundraise £250 each through sponsorship and spend the night outside in just a sleeping bag.

All of the money raised through the event will be split between the organisations involved to continue the important work they do in fighting poverty within the community.

Dons Local Action Group was set up as a COVID Response volunteer group providing food, tech and other support to those in need across the three boroughs of Merton, Wandsworth and Kingston.

The charity has distributed over 500 tonnes of food in 2021 and over 2200 devices since the pandemic began, to local people experiencing poverty.

For more information, or to get involved please visit www.donslocalaction.org.

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