VOLUNTEERS will be sleeping rough at Nothe Fort to raise money for a charity for ex-servicemen.

Charitable Dorset residents as well as volunteers and ex-servicemen will be spending the night of Friday, March 2 under the stars in the Napoleonic fort.

The event runs from 10.30pm to 7am on Saturday, March 3 and will raise money for charity Alabare Christian Care and Support.

The charity runs two houses for ex-servicemen who have difficulty adjusting to civilian life in Weymouth, one in Coombe Avenue and one in Ricketts Close.

At the two houses ex-servicemen can get help and support with finding their own accommodation, getting back into education or work and the charity also provides help and support for problems like drugs, alcohol and mental health issues.

The first house opened in January 2011 and since then it has seen 18 ex-servicemen come through the doors.

Support worker Emma Williams-Mandiville said: “We have had a really successful year, we have had lots of people getting jobs and moving on into their own flats.”

She added: “The word is spreading about the houses. There’s clearly a need for it.”

This is the second year the charity has done the sponsored sleep out at Nothe Fort.

Mrs Williams-Mandiville said that they were hoping this year’s event would be bigger and better. She said that the event really made people think about what it would be like to face a life living on the streets.

Mrs Williams-Mandiville added that for several of the participants last year it had been an eye-opening experience, She said: “The event is helping a charity and making people think what would happen if they didn’t have a supportive family or perhaps were dealing with addiction.

“It makes people realise it can happen to anyone and there but for the grace of God go I.”

Sleepers will be out on the parade ground in the fort unless it is raining when they will move indoors.

There are only 50 places available for the event so people are being encouraged to sign up as soon as possible and start their fundraising.

For more information and a registration form contact Alabare Christian Care and Support on 01722 322929, email fundraising@alabare.co.uk or visit www.alabare.co.uk