YOUNG people from the Dunchurch’s Scout group will be spending a night under cardboard to raise awareness of the problem of homelessness.

On Friday 25th March 2022 a group of Dunchurch’s Scouts will be sleeping out in the centre of the village, on the grass outside Wanda Fashions - watched over by a team of leaders and parents. They will have nothing for the night but their clothes, a sleeping bag, a bottle of water and cardboard.

Assistant leader John Bennett said: “Homelessness is an important issue in the current UK situation.”

The Dunchurch Scouts last did a sleep out in 2018, inspired by another group in Meriden.

Mr Bennett said: “When we did it before every child said they woke up cold in the night. That was part of the experience - seeing what it is like. But they have only got one night of it and then they can go home.”

He said that someone from the charity Hope 4 in Rugby would be coming to speak to the Scouts in the next few weeks about what it really means to be homeless. 

“The reality is that most people in Dunchurch live a relatively sheltered life.

“I say to the Scouts: remember that you go home after one night, but homeless people have to stay out night after night.”

Mr Bennett said excitement was building about the night. Covid restrictions during the last two years meant the Scouts had had fewer opportunities to do things like this. 

He said the Scouts would be designing posters during the next month as well as beginning to fundraise.

Dunchurch Scout Group is run by volunteers for boys and girls aged 10½ to 14.