People in Bournemouth have been discovering the hardships involved in being homeless.

More than 35 people from different organisations constructed their own temporary shelters and slept under the stars for one night at Talbot Heath School as part of YMCA Bournemouth’s Big Sleep Easy event.

Donations have exceeded £7,500 so far, with more continuing to come in.

Sheena Dayman, events manager at YMCA Bournemouth said: “It was fantastic to see members of our community come together to raise money for those in need. Spirits stayed high despite the challenging weather conditions and thanks to some great shelter craftmanship, everyone stayed dry.

“Homelessness is becoming increasingly prevalent as more and more people face financial pressures amid the cost of living crisis. YMCA Bournemouth plays a critical role in directly preventing homelessness by putting roofs over people’s heads, as well as providing personal support and guidance.

“By taking part in the Big Sleep Easy, individuals and organisations support our work to keep people safe from homelessness in the long-term. A huge thank you to everyone who took part this year.”

Main sponsor, Lester Aldridge, took part for the fourth year running with a team of 14. Mark Benham, head of Estates, said: “Our structural engineering and architectural skills have come on leaps and bounds since last year, raising money to support a brilliant charity that makes a significant difference in our community. We are already planning for 2023.”

Cool Coffee Cart provided food and refreshments during the evening.

Tesco donated bacon, sausage and baps to participants in the morning, cooked and served up by Winton Salvation Army following donations totalling £180 from participants.