Ardenglen raises £3,000 and earns praise from Social Bite

Ardenglen Housing Association completed its Sleep in the Park participation and received the personal thanks of Social Bite co-founder Josh Littlejohn MBE.

The Ardenglen team met Josh during his whistle stop tour of Scotland’s four principal cities where thousands were taking part in the mass sleep out to raise awareness of homelessness.

Josh praised the efforts of the housing association saying it had done “a magnificent job”.

The total raised across Scotland is surging past £3 million.

The five members who took part in the Kelvingrove Park event were: Audrey Simpson, Diane Hendry, Leanne McGowan, Kerri Downie and Allana Hammell.

The fundraising by Ardenglen - which has take part over the last few weeks - saw the figure rise to almost £3,000.

Chief executive Audrey said: “Not for a moment did we wake up the following morning and think that we remotely understood what it is to be homeless.

“There was something very powerful about bringing thousands of people together to focus on trying to help on this vital issue. Thanks to Josh Littlejohn MBE for meeting us and to everyone who sponsored us.”

Ardenglen thanked its contractors for helping contribute to the money raised. They are City Technical Services, Sidey, McTaggart Group, The Print Brokers and Caledonian Maintenance Services.

The Ardenglen staff took with them a banner specially produced by Ardenglen’s ‘Sew Fabulous’ group which offers the opportunity to learn new skills through the manufacture of textile goods from reclaimed fabrics.

Philanthropist John Watson OBE who helped fund the Glasgow Sleep in the Park singled out housing associations for a special mention.

He said: “We know there were many housing professionals representing a number of Scottish housing associations sleeping out at Kelvingrove. Their willingness to join the fight to defeat homelessness is a shining example of the dedication that they offer in their working lives to helping others and which defines Scotland’s housing association movement.”

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