More than 100 people slept rough in Edinburgh's city centre in a bid to raise cash and awareness of youth homelessness
More than 100 people in Scotland's capital swapped their comfy beds to sleep on the hard, cold ground in Edinburgh's Festival Square.
The intrepid sleepers were taking part in youth homeless charity the Rock Trust's annual Sleep Out.
Friday's event aims to raise money for the organisation as well as provide a taste of what life is like for the 150,000 young homeless people across the UK.
“It’s really unsettling that so many people the same age as me and younger are going to be sleeping rough in the cold and rain this winter - Connor Blus
Staff from Tesco Broughton Road, HSBC Security Services, JCI Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University, West Lothian College and the Fat Cyclist Cafe are just a handful of those who slept in Festival Square for the night.
Rock Trust chief executive Kate Polson said: “Last year almost 4,000 people were declared homeless in the city of Edinburgh, this isn’t an issue that can be ignored.
“Each year the Rock Trust helps around 400 young people in Edinburgh and the Lothians and the Sleep Out is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year.
“There was a great atmosphere at Festival Square on Friday, with everyone there coming together to support those who are less fortunate.
“It’s fantastic that we had such a wide range of participants for this year’s event, it shows how important an issue youth homelessness is for so many people across Edinburgh, the Lothians and beyond.”
Connor Blus, service manager at Tesco Broughton Road, said: “It’s really unsettling that so many people the same age as me and younger are going to be sleeping rough in the cold and rain this winter. We took part in the Sleep Out to raise awareness and help get more young people off the streets of Edinburgh.”
This year participants were lucky enough to have provisions that those on the streets don't receive such as refreshments, live music from local bands MAD and The Matta and The Phantoms, competitions and security guards watching over the sleeping area all night.
Edinburgh’s famous La Favourita Delivered pizza trailer also served up fresh Italian pizza along with local porridge champions Stoat’s who served up porridge for breakfast.
Last year’s supporters raised £34,000 for charity and the Rock Trust is looking to beat that figure again this year.
