Hi Guys!

If you read Jennifer Bourne's blog (here) you will know that myself and Sorcha Anglim took part in a 72hr hunger-strike to raise awareness and funds for the Voluntary Services Overseas who I will be working with in Zambia for 3 months!

Since our striking began we've made £131 which is fantastic, I also have some amazing friends who are doing their own hunger-strike so a massive thank-you to them and to all those that have donated, it is much appreciated!

I'm getting closer to my £1000 target!!

So what's next?

I considered cake sales, raffles, bag packing etc which are all brilliant fundraisers but I thought it would be interesting and a little bit more of a statement if I took in the themes of 'poverty' and turned them into fundraisers..

Living in Manchester has really opened my eyes to the amount of homelessness that is around us. It's sad.

Just the other day, I started my 6:30am shift at the Coffee Shop and as I was taking out the shop signs I realised there was a curled up bundle on one of the benches outside. It was dark and snowy but I just made out a middle aged man. What was even more heart-breaking was the fact I could see his sleeping bag shivering...that guy must have been freezing. 

I get slightly annoyed when people say 'I think it's a choice they're like that' - For some, maybe. But I don't think the vast majority of folk have the understanding to make such a statement.

Personally, I don't really know anyone who would swap a warm bed for a city bench out of pure choice.

But that's what I've decided to do. In the next two/three weeks I will gather up some close friends and we will sleep on the streets. I want to know what it's like.

What's great about the organisation I'm going to be working with is that they don't consider your job done when you return home after 3 months. They help you to work out a UK action plan and become a global citizen, raising awareness of social issues, getting voices heard and continuing to make a difference. 

I'm really proud to be a part of something worthwhile! And I hope I can encourage myself and others to learn more about what goes on and how we can change it.

This "Sleeping Rough" event feels like a stepping stone in raising awareness for a lot of things and I think it's going to be a great learning curve, so please spread the word! And support a great cause!!

http://www.justgiving.com/Amy-Hill-VSO

Over and Out! :)