Earlier this month, over 65 people took to Leamington for local charity Helping Hand's Annual Big Sleep Out, for World Homeless Day.

Joining them this year, was Warwickshire's Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner (DPCC), Emma Daniell.

The charity, has hosted the sleep out for ten years, spending the night outside in solidarity with those experiencing homelessness.

Speaking to Nub News, Mrs Daniell shared her experience and why events like this are important in shaping our understanding of homeless and supporting vulnerable people in the community. 

She recalled: "I'm really passionate about prevention and I lead on the Drug and Alcohol Strategic Partnership across Warwickshire so it [the sleep out] really aligns with my my passion around that and and preventing drug use and further harm from drug use.

Mrs Daniell explained that the opportunity to support the sleep out initially came about, when she heard about it at a Helping Hands gardening programme.

"One of the people who was on the scheme started talking about the Big Sleep Out and I smiled sweetly and said 'Oh, that sounds lovely, I'd love to join you!'

"And before I knew it I had an invitation to not only speak at the event, but to also sleep out." 

The charity, has hosted the sleep out for ten years, spending the night outside in solidarity with those experiencing homelessness (image supplied)

The sleep out itself took place in coincidence with World Homelessness Day, which was on Friday 10 October.

Sharing her experience, Mrs Daniell recounted: "I think the eye-opening part for me was the noise level of people out and about in Leamington, so the opportunity to rest was limited."

She further highlighted some of the challenges homeless people face, especially in the colder, winter months. 

"It wasn't raining and it wasn't very windy, so in that sense, the weather was kind to us.

"But, it was quite damp and so my kit got really wet and I thought 'actually I'm going to go home and I'm going to dry this,' but for somebody who is genuinely homeless and sleeping rough, their equipment is going to stay wet now until April or May when the sun comes back out and I think that was quite an eye opener for me."

Mrs Daniell said: "The other part for me was that you have such a long day ahead."

She noted that after taking a walk around the town and seeing where some homeless people do actually sleep, the day felt extremely long and was hard to fill.

"You have such a long period before you can go to bed again and it's what you kind of do with your time in those 15 hours before you're going back to bed.

"I think that increased my understanding of why people may be more inclined to possibly use substances and, or indeed be on the streets acting in what general members of the public might consider to be an antisocial way, but there is nowhere to go and nothing to do."

The Rapid Relief Team in Leamington (image via Emma Daniell)

Despite having army staff, volunteers from Helping Hands and support workers ensuring the sleeper's safety, there was still a sense of vulnerability, explained Mrs Daniell.

"There was one particular time during the night and I remember a man leaning over and sort of shouting about the fact that there were lots of people sleeping here, and I felt very vulnerable at that point, despite the fact that I was aware we had other professionals around us who were keeping a little watchful eyes."

She further noted that, during the night, there were sixteen people who would have also been sleeping rough in Leamington that night alone - not counting those sofa surfing.

Some of those sleeping rough even joined those on the sleep out and shared their personal stories, which Mrs Daniell said made the experience more insightful.

She noted: "There are quite a few schemes and people that engage with vulnerable people on the streets and I think that's a really, really important element of third sector organisations and members of the public being able to give back to their communities. 

"It can be very difficult to support a rough sleeper in the sense of an individual person, because obviously if there is a rough sleeper, the guidance is not to just provide them with money, that potentially would be feeding a substance abuse issue of some description. 

"So the great thing about Leamington  nd Warwickshire as well, but in particularly in Leamington is we've got really great organisations such as Helping Hands.

"If you're not able to volunteer or anything of that nature, you can donate money and then that money, I can absolutely say, is going to the right place."

Emma Daniell with the army on the Annual Big Sleep Out (image supplied)

She concluded by stating that the small glimpse into the struggles and daily life of those sleeping rough enhanced her understanding of why so many people resort to using substances and an "escape."

Going forward, Mrs Daniell said prevention is pivotal going forward.

"Earlier intervention is important and how we can stop somebody from slipping so far down that trajectory that they then do to become homeless.

"It's actually about how we get prevention and treatment for people much, much earlier in their journey, so to hopefully prevent that decline into homelessness. 

"And then once somebody is homeless, it's about collaboratively working across our housing and our providers as well to ensure that people have a secure residency because people are far more likely to go back into substance use or criminality if they haven't got secure housing.

"Finally employment, which will prevent people from remaining in that chaotic lifestyle that they might have fallen into."

To find out more about the work done by Helping Hands charity visit here and to donate to the Big Sleep Out campaign here.