Supporting the Booth Centre: Reflections from this Year’s Sleepout
Castlefield were proud to take part in the Booth Centre's 30th anniversary year sleepout at the cathedral. Here, Marketing Assistant Olivia Shields shares her experience from the event and collates reflections from the Castlefield co-owners who participated despite facing treacherous storms.
On Friday 14th of November, myself and a small group of fellow Co-owners joined the Booth Centre’s annual sleepout at Manchester Cathedral, an event that is proudly sponsored by Castlefield.
The event marked the 30th anniversary of the Booth Centre, which is a lifeline and place of solace and comfort for so many of those in our community who are facing homelessness.
The plan for the evening was to sleep out in the Cathedral grounds, in a bid to stand in solidarity with those experiencing homelessness in our community. However, whilst we were all prepared with our sleeping bags and thermals, Storm Claudia had other ideas. Rather than sleeping out, we retreated inside along with the other volunteers, to take shelter from the torrential rain and wind.
The fact that we could choose to sleep inside is a privilege many in our city don’t have. For them, sleeping on the streets and facing storms is simply their daily life.
Although the evening didn’t quite go the way we expected, the change in plans really underscored how precarious and unpredictable life can be. It’s a reality many people face every single day. It showed us how quickly life can shift, often in ways completely outside a person’s control. And the fact that we could choose to sleep inside is a privilege many in our city don’t have. For them, sleeping on the streets and facing storms is simply their daily life.
On the night, we heard from people who had suddenly lost their homes due to job losses or relationship breakdowns. With nowhere else to turn, they found themselves sleeping on the street. Much like we were welcomed by the friendly volunteers on the night, who offered us food and reassured us it was safer to sleep inside, these volunteers provide the same warmth and support to our community every single day. Eventually, the speakers we heard from discovered the Booth Centre, where they received the help they needed to begin rebuilding their lives.
Their stories showed just how vital the Booth Centre truly is. “The Boothy,” as they affectionately call it, is more than a service; it’s a community hub. It’s a place where everyone feels safe and welcome, a space where people can connect with others who understand exactly what they’re going through. Beyond offering food and emergency accommodation, the Centre provides a sense of belonging and purpose. They create opportunities through volunteer roles, run activities like sports and creative projects, offer wellbeing and career advice, and help people enrol in college courses to build toward long-term goals.
Some of the individuals we heard from are now at university, living in their own accommodation, and, most importantly, feeling hopeful about the future.
Here, our Co-owners share their thoughts and experience:
Thomas McCoy:
“After the sleepout, with the support of other Castlefield co-owners, I felt exhausted for the next few days. I can't help but think about how this pales in comparison to the people under far riskier and lonelier conditions.
Hearing the stories from some of the people who had been supported by the Booth Centre, it was clear what the charity meant to them, offering support and understanding at a time when this can be so desperately lacking in society. It definitely has inspired me to try to do more in my community.”
Bronwyn Riley:
"I couldn’t make it to the sleepout, although I desperately wanted to take part, to hang out with a small group of friends and colleagues, to hear the talks and enjoy the dinner the Booth Centre was to provide, and the adventure of camping. But the storm meant that several trees were down in Macclesfield, I was worried about the journey, and to cap it off, it started raining inside my kitchen.
I felt quite emotional about how lucky we were, as those who are genuinely facing homelessness don’t have the chance to duck out of the bad weather.
As I stayed in to watch TV in a warm lounge, with a glass of wine and my son, I felt quite emotional about how lucky we were, as those who are genuinely facing homelessness don’t have the chance to duck out of the bad weather.”
Ffion Spencer:
“We had the option to sleep inside the Cathedral, out of the wind and rain, and even then the night felt cold, dark, and uncomfortable. I kept thinking: this is only November. For those without shelter, the months ahead will be even harsher.
We had safety in numbers, extra layers to keep warm, and the reassurance that this was temporary. In the morning, we could go home, turn on the heating, and brush our teeth with warm water from a tap. For people experiencing homelessness or living in poverty, their day looks very different. It’s not just the cold or rain- it’s the constant worries about safety, food, and where to sleep next. Carrying that weight makes even a decent night’s rest almost impossible. So while we tossed and turned on hard floors, our discomfort doesn’t come close to the exhaustion of someone trying to sleep outside with those fears hanging over them.
Their work goes beyond meeting practical needs; it restores dignity, hope, and a sense of belonging.
Listening to stories from those supported by the Booth Centre was deeply moving. Their work goes beyond meeting practical needs; it restores dignity, hope, and a sense of belonging. Our one night doesn’t come close to what so many people face every day, but it really brought home why our support for the Booth Centre matters.”
