On 4 March, four students from Newman Catholic College joined students from Twyford School and William Perkin School in a sleep out at the City Mission in Harlesden. Nadine, Samiya, Luke and Joao took part in the sleep out which was intended to encourage students to think about the housing crisis and the issue of homelessness in London in the run up to the Mayoral election.
The sleep out took place on the location of the Old Oak Common, which is presently being planned by the Mayor of London as the most significant development for the next 30 years in London. London Citizens focus for the Mayoral Election is the provision on housing and the need for affordable housing within the proposal at Old Oak Common.
The students were welcomed by Charmaine, one of the leaders of the City Mission who explained their work in the area and the impact of the Old Oak Common development. A general knowledge quiz served as an ice-breaker exercise and was followed by questions relating to the Old Oak Common development. There was a screening of the film ‘Up’, an animation which follows the adventures of an old man, whose home in threatened by developers, and a young scout as they float away in the man’s house to South America. The film was both heart-warming and pertinent, as it reflected on the importance of having a home.
