Churchill Retirement Living boss spends night on the streets in support of homelessness charity

Churchill Retirement Living chairman and chief executive Spencer J McCarthy was joined by more than 50 colleagues from the retirement housebuilder and its management company Millstream Management Services.

Employees at the company's Ringwood, Byfleet and Bromgrove offices braved sub-zero temperatures in the car park of Churchill's Ringwood branch for the sleep out, which was organised by the firm's charitable arm, the Churchill Foundation.

The team, who made do with cardboard beds and basic shelters provided by Castle Marquees of Burley, raised more than £20,000 for End Youth Homelessness, in support of homeless young people across the UK.

Spencer J McCarthy said: “Homelessness can happen to anyone at any time, and helping to support young people who find themselves in this situation is a cause I feel very strongly about. That’s why the Churchill Foundation chose End Youth Homelessness as one of our main charity partners in 2019, and why I was keen to take part in the Sleep Out challenge to experience just a small taste of what life is like for the people we’re supporting.

"I’m very proud of our team for braving the cold conditions and raising such an impressive total to date.”

End Youth Homelessness is a UK-wide movement of local charities that have joined forces to tackle youth homelessness together. It provides a national platform to raise awareness, share experience and generate voluntary income, working to end youth homelessness on a national scale to give vulnerable young people a future. Its member charities house and support over 30,000 young people facing homelessness each year.

Sofia Haque, head of fundraising and communications at the charity, who attended the event, said: "Events like this really help us to support the thousands of young people facing homelessness all over the country. I hope everyone who took part managed to enjoy the experience and get some sleep.”