28 Oct 2026
What would make you swap your warm bed for a night sleeping on cardboard in November? For five local people, the answer is simple – the chance to make a difference to someone else’s life.
On Friday November 13, people from across our community will gather at Oaklands College for the St Albans Sleepout 2026, giving up their home comforts to raise vital funds and awareness for local people facing homelessness.
But who are the people signing up, what motivates them, and why would anyone willingly spend a cold November night sleeping outside? We caught up with five of this year’s participants to hear their stories.
A father and son taking on the challenge together
For Steve Wallin, head of delivery at Cardo, this year’s headline sponsor, the Sleepout is about much more than fundraising. It’s also an opportunity to teach his nine-year-old son an important life lesson.
“Nobody should face the reality of not having a safe place to call home. I wanted to do something practical to support people facing homelessness and show my nine-year-old son the importance of fundraising and understanding how other people live.”
Having worked in social housing for seven years, Steve understands how important a secure home can be.
“Homelessness can affect anyone, and behind every person is a story that deserves compassion rather than judgement.”
For Steve, the biggest challenge won’t simply be the cold. It will be recognising how easily we take everyday comforts for granted: “Spending a night on cardboard will be a small glimpse into the challenges people face every day, and I’m looking forward to sharing that experience with my son.”
Five years of sleeping out – and still coming back!
For Marco Lombardelli, managing director of Global Rail Construction, this year’s event marks his family’s fifth Sleepout supporting Herts Young Homeless (HYH).
“Spending a night outside gives you a small insight into the challenges and uncertainty faced by people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.”
Despite his experience, there’s one thing Marco still hasn’t mastered – the British weather!
“Without a doubt, the biggest challenge will be the weather – particularly trying to keep warm!”
Fortunately, the atmosphere more than compensates.
Marco describes a wonderful sense of community, with everyone united by a common purpose, sharing stories and supporting one another.
“Despite the purpose of the event being a very serious one, it has always been an enjoyable and genuinely warm experience because of the people taking part and the spirit of the evening. Shame we can’t say the same about the weather!”
From volunteering to sleeping out
Tom Clendon has a particularly personal reason for taking part.
As a volunteer at Centre 33, Tom encounters people who are sleeping rough and knows homelessness isn’t something happening somewhere else. It’s happening right here in
St Albans: “It is sad that there is rough sleeping even in St Albans,” he says.
For Tom, supporting the Sleepout is about compassion, dignity and our shared responsibility to help others: “We are all made in God’s image, and as individuals and a society we have a duty to respect each other and to help those less fortunate than ourselves.”
And his biggest concern about the night ahead?
“I hope it does not rain.“
Turning good intentions into action – and cake!
For recent university graduate Aria Chakravorty, the journey began with something many commuters might walk straight past – an advert at the station.
Having recently graduated, Aria saw an opportunity to support a cause close to her heart, particularly the challenges facing young LGBTQ+ people experiencing homelessness.
And she’s come up with a rather delicious fundraising plan.
“I’m actually doing a bake sale to raise the money. I sent out a menu in my local group chats and I’ve been taking orders on WhatsApp. That part has been exciting but I have a lot of baking to do this weekend!”
Initially nervous about sleeping outside alone, Aria has persuaded her old school friend Lynn to join her.
Her motivation carries a powerful message about making a difference locally: “It’s easy to feel powerless because there’s not a lot I can do about, for instance, all the people displaced and homeless in Gaza. But I can try and help out in my local area at least.”
Practising what you preach
Having lived in St Albans for nearly 20 years and running St Albans Mums Facebook group, Karen Snook knows how generous our local community can be.
She’s been promoting this year’s Sleepout but decided encouraging others wasn’t quite enough.
“I wanted to do more than just encourage other people to take part. I wanted to experience it for myself and help raise awareness and funds for the brilliant local charities involved.”
Karen admits she’s rather fond of her home comforts, especially her warm bed.
But she recognises something important.
“The reality is that I get to go home the following morning, have a hot shower and climb back into my own bed. For people experiencing homelessness, that isn’t always an option.”
She also reminds us that homelessness isn’t always visible. It can mean families in temporary accommodation, sofa surfing or people just one unexpected life event away from losing their home.
Could you be the next sleeper?
Five people. Five different motivations. One shared belief that nobody in our community should face homelessness without support.
The Sleepout isn’t about recreating homelessness. It’s about coming together, raising awareness and supporting local charities making a genuine difference.
So why not follow in Steve, Marco, Tom, Aria and Karen’s footsteps?
Join in at Oaklands College on Friday November 13 for an unforgettable night with a very important purpose.
