SCOUT groups across Tunbridge Wells raised more than £4,000 for homeless charity Porchlight, by sleeping in cardboard boxes.
The 200 scouts, aged between eight and 15, constructed their cardboard shelters and slept in them overnight on Friday October 7, at the Adamswell campsite in Langton Green.
Nick Burgess, the District Scout Commissioner said: “From the youngest Cub Scout aged eight to the teenaged Explorer Scout they made some great shelters and enjoyed the campfire and the hot sausage rolls provided by Leaders for breakfast.”
During the construction, the scouts were visited by Sir Keith Mills, a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent who was impressed by the scouts’ enthusiasm and ingenuity with the building of their shelters. He also donated to the charity in recognition of the most creative shelter.
The scouts were also visited by Patrick Fuller, a trustee for Porchlight who said: “The money raised by Tunbridge Wells [scouts] was nearly half the amount raised by the rest of the scout county, where six other groups took part.”
Porchlight is Kent’s leading homeless charity, providing housing and support services for those sleeping on the street.
In Kent, is estimated that there are at least 70 people sleeping rough on any single night.
