Why we’re sleeping out: the difference it makes

On Friday, 11 of us from Nicholsons will spend the night in the cloisters of Norwich Cathedral for The Benjamin Foundation’s Sleep Out. Before we unroll our sleeping bags, we wanted to share why this cause matters, and where the money goes.

Youth homelessness is closer to home than many of us realise. Across the UK, 123,934 young people were homeless or at risk of homelessness in 2024/25. That’s around 1 in 60. More than 3,000 of them were here in Norfolk and Suffolk.

For a young person in that position, getting a home of their own can change everything. But a set of keys isn’t the same as a secure future. There’s a deposit to find. Bills to set up. A tenancy agreement to make sense of. Plenty of us would find that daunting at 19, even with family around to help.

That’s where this year’s Sleep Out comes in. The money raised will support two of the charity’s services.

The Rent Deposit Scheme helps young people aged 18 to 25 who have faced homelessness, and are now ready to live independently, to pay their deposit and understand their responsibilities as tenants.

The Tenancy Transition Service gives practical, one-to-one support to set up a home and keep it. Youth workers stay alongside young people after they move in, helping with utilities, benefits and any early problems with the landlord or letting agent.

Put simply, one helps young people through the door. The other helps them stay there.

Kim’s story

Kim* grew up in foster care, moving to a new place every few months. She then spent two years in The Benjamin Foundation’s supported accommodation, Aspire, learning everyday skills like cooking and preparing to live on her own.

When she shared her story, Kim was 19 and about to move into her first flat. Her Tenancy Transition Worker, Erica, was helping with everything from setting up bills and reading meters to working out a budget. The Rent Deposit Scheme was helping with her deposit; without it, she couldn’t have got her keys.

In Kim’s words: “I would not know where to start on my own.”

*Name changed to protect her identity.

What a donation could do

• £35 could provide one hour of dedicated housing support.
• £150 could help provide the essentials to make a new house feel like a home.
• £400 could help provide practical support when a young person moves on.
• £850 could cover a rent deposit, helping a young person secure a place of their own.

Last year, The Benjamin Foundation supported 508 people through its housing services and provided 72,420 nights of safe homes for young people. Sleep Out itself has raised more than £315,000 since 2015.

If you’d like to support our team, you can donate on our JustGiving page:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/nicholsons-solicitors-llp-3

Thank you to everyone who has already given. We’ll let you know how we get on.