Minister to Sleep Rough to Support Homeless Veterans
Local church leader to brave cold March night in stealth camp for The Great Tommy Sleep Out
A minister serving communities across Rochdale, Bury and North Manchester will be spending a cold March night sleeping outdoors to raise vital funds for homeless armed forces veterans as part of The Great Tommy Sleep Out, supporting the Royal British Legion.
On Friday 20th March, Revd Daniel Harris, a minister with the United Reformed Church in the Rochdale, Bury and North Manchester Missional Partnership, will take part in a solo overnight “stealth camp” somewhere in the North Manchester area. Armed with only the bare essentials - a tent, sleeping bag, gas stove and a roll of toilet paper - Daniel will experience a small glimpse of the insecurity many veterans face every day.
March nights can be unforgivingly cold, damp, and long. This is no comfortable camp-out. Temperatures regularly drop close to freezing, and sleep is uncertain at best. The challenge is designed to reflect, in a limited way, the harsh reality faced by veterans who find themselves without a safe place to call home.
“As a minister, my calling is rooted in dignity, compassion, and standing alongside people who are too often overlooked,” said Daniel. “Faith isn’t just something we talk about on a Sunday - it’s something we live out. No one who has served their country should be left without shelter, warmth, or hope.”
Funds raised will go directly toward emergency support for veterans experiencing homelessness. A donation of £15 can provide a vital food pack for a veteran arriving at emergency accommodation - meeting immediate needs at a critical moment.
“This is more than a fundraising challenge,” Daniel added. “It’s a mission. It’s about solidarity. And it’s about saying, clearly and publicly, that no veteran should be left behind.”
Members of the public are invited to support the challenge by donating online and sharing the appeal via the following link : https://socialsync.app/fundraiser/cr-k395l406kov5
Every contribution, large or small, helps ensure veterans are met not with cold nights and closed doors, but with care, safety, and respect.