Lincoln Sleepeasy

Personnel from RAF Waddington slept in the shadows of Lincoln Cathedral on the 25th March 2022 in order to raise funds and awareness for mental health and homelessness in Lincolnshire.

The Sleep Easy event was held in the grounds of Lincoln Cathedral and was attended by approximately 60 members of the public. It was a cold clear night with temperatures hitting a low of 3 degrees. Flt Lt Atkin, Fg Off Higginbottom, Cpl Payne, Cpl Robus and Cpl Whelan, all personnel from RAF Waddington, were part of the larger group that spent the night as part of the ‘cardboard box community’. The team from RAF Waddington were raising money for the Nomad Trust, part of YMCA Lincolnshire that provides emergency access accommodation in the form of the Nomad Centre, and also to raise funds for the John Egging Trust (JET). Commenting on the undertaking Cpl Whelan said: “The Sleep Easy event was most definitely an eyeopener and has given me a different perspective of the unfortunate people who have no option but to do this as part of normal life. I recommend to everyone to try it out one year, just to see what people have to endure and open your eyes to the current issues”

The YMCA have hosted Sleep Easy events since 2010, with over 6000 people having taken part. Summarising the experience Fg Off Higginbottom said: “Participating in the Sleep Easy event was a humbling experience but it was also aweinspiring to see all of the hardwork that goes on behind the scenes of the YMCA volunteers that help out – I also learnt that the Mayor Of Lincoln used to be homeless herself which truly reflects that it can happen to anyone at anytime.” At last count the YMCA JustGiving page for the event had their total raised just over £10,000.

Flt Lt Atkin “Sleep Easy 22 was a sombre yet warming affair; a group of people chatting, getting to know each other before hunkering down against the cold night, coming together to replicate ‘sleeping rough’ in order to raise funds and an awareness of homelessness in Lincoln”

Fg Off Higginbottom “Participating in the Sleep Easy event was a humbling experience but it was also awe-inspiring to see all of the hard-work that goes on behind the scenes of the YMCA volunteers that help out – I also learnt that the Mayor Of Lincoln used to be homeless herself which truly reflects that it can happen to anyone at anytime.”

Cpl Whelan “The Sleep Easy event was most definitely an eyeopener and has given me a different perspective of the unfortunate people who have no option but to do this as part of normal life. I was very fortunate that I was able to go home to somewhere warm afterwards. I recommend to everyone to try it out one year, just to see what people have to endure and open your eyes to the current issues”