Mass rough sleep out in Aberdeen to raise money for city homeless charity

Some of the rough sleepers from Robert Gordon University who took part in the fundraiser

The group bedded down in the multi-storey car park of Union Square shopping complex in aid of Aberdeen Cyrenians.

Manager from the shopping centre were amongst those who took part in the fundraiser, as well as groups from various oil firms and Robert Gordon University.

While giving only a small insight into the daily challenges faced by rough sleepers, those taking part did face some extra late night noise on the night.

The car park is used by customers of a multiplex cinema - with a late night screening of new James Bond movie Spectre keeping the car park busy until after 3am.

The sleep out has been organised by Aberdeen Cyrenians for almost 30 years, raising thousands of pounds for the charity.

A group of 16 students from Robert Gordon University who took part in the latest event raised £726.

Student Sarah-Jane Reilly said: “The sleepout was a great success. It opened our hearts to the plight of homeless people in our city and raised awareness into the issue of homelessness in Aberdeen.”

Aberdeen Cyrenians Fundraising Officer Nicky MacBeath said: “The sleepout is a really important event to help raise awareness of just some of the issues faced by homeless people every day like the cold, the lack of sleep, and the lack of basic comforts.”

There are around 25 to 30 rough sleepers in Aberdeen who engage with Aberdeen Cyrenians on a regular basis with possibly the same amount again who are not in contact with its services.