A group of Scouts from Basingstoke slept rough out in the cold weather last week to raise money for a charity that works for rough sleepers.

Twelve members of the 4th (Winklebury) and the 24th (South Ham) Basingstoke Scouts slept on oper ground on a rugby field near the Mays Bounty Cricket Club in Basingstoke.

Adrian Whitman, one of the Scout leaders of the group, said the kids raised nearly £1,000 for Julian House.

The charity's homeless outreach team makes sure anyone who is sleeping rough, or is leading a street-based lifestyle, understands the options available to come in.

“We raised £136 using a charity bucket at our kitchen tent and the rest by the Scouts’ individual fundraisers,” Adrian said.

“We had a kitchen tent to make coffees, teas, hot chocolate, bacon rolls and sausage rolls and so on. The general public bought these and made a contribution to the charity bucket for Julian House.

“The money raised will go directly to Julian House to fund their local outreach team in Basingstoke.

“It was a great event as the kids slept literally with frosts settling on them at minus three degrees. I was there along with two other leaders to watch the camp and keep them safe during the night. Julien House also provided us the security guards to make sure the kids are safe.”

Around 20 people from the general public also joined the kids to sleep rough that night and raise money for the charity.

This is not the first time the Basingstoke Scouts raised money for the charity. During the pandemic, the members had slept rough on their own gardens to support Julian House.

Adrian is the section leader of 4th Basingstoke, while Kevin Teoh is the section leader for the 24th Basingstoke (West). Gareth Cairns, assistant district commissioner, for Scout in Basingstoke West District was also present.