A South Yorkshire firefighter plans to sleep outside for the whole of March to raise money for homeless veterans.
Gary Devonport, 40, said he hopes to raise £3,000 by participating in The Great Tommy Sleep Out by sleeping in his back garden, which supports an estimated 4,000 homeless veterans in London alone.
Although the Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) campaign encourages participants to sleep outside for just one night, Gary’s experiences in the armed forces pushed him to take the challenge further.
Gary said: “Every penny raised helps Royal British Legion Industries provide safe, warm housing and give veterans a fair chance at employment, no matter their health conditions or disabilities.”
Gary served four years as an Infantryman in the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment and one year in the Yorkshire Regiment.
He said: “I loved my time in the military and when it came to a natural end I needed something similar in terms of discipline and meaning.”
Born and raised in Barnsley, he now leads South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s Armed Forces Network, supporting the estimated 10% of its workforce with military backgrounds.
Gary says the coldest night so far has been -3°C and plans to spend most nights in a sleeping bag in his garden.
He added: “Soldiers are trained to be tough and to not ask for help. But that mindset can leave them struggling in silence and needs to change.”
According to the Office for National Statistics, around 1 in 400 veterans reported being homeless, rough sleeping, or living in a refuge for domestic abuse.
Lisa Farmer OBE, RBLI’s Chief Executive, said: “Every participant is helping to shine a light on urgent social issues, like the desperate need for housing and welfare for struggling veterans.”
Last year, there were 7,000 individual Sleep Outs taking place up and down the country.
Lisa said: “It’s ‘far more than just a fundraiser – it is a movement.”
Paula Ray, RBLI’s Assistant Director of Unrestricted Income, said: “Our campaign is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by servicemen and women, who often end up without a home after service.”
Royal British Legion Industries’ research showed veterans made up over 20% of London’s homeless population in the 1990s, but that figure fell to 6% by 2008.
However, homeless veterans tend to be older, sleep rough for longer, and are more likely to suffer from alcohol-related issues than the wider homeless population.
To sponsor Gary, you can visit his fundraising page here.