Event round-up of Under One Sky's Night for the Homeless December 2015. For the 4th year running our team took to the streets of Central London to bring light, food and gifts to homeless people..

1. Night for the Homeless
December 2015
"There is the sky which is all men's together"
Euripides

2. Our Biggest Event Ever
On 12 December 2015 a team of 40 people took to the streets to spread light and hope to the homeless in London.
The team: Ben (the chef), Donald (photographer), Szilvia (the baker), Amera, Lubia, Aisha, Lia, Cheryl, Werda, Kodjo, Phoebe, Banita,
Peter, Jack, Darren, Annie, Ashley, Raina, Emma, Alice, TJ, John, Karen L, Naheed, Zara, Levente, Tamas, Richard, Andrea, Mikkel,
Helena, Mariam, Ayesha, Karen M and Guiseppe.

3. We’re Getting Bigger
December 2015 was our 6th Night for the Homeless event since the
start in 2012.
With the humanitarian crises in the Jungle refugee camp in Calais we
have expanded our focus to support for that cause.
In the last since 2012 the Under One Sky collective has reached 750
homeless in London and raised close to £25,000 in donations.
Our collective has grown to 95 people and is a microcosm of London
in terms of cultural, ethnic and religious diversity.

4. Donations up by 41%!
£7,880
143 people donated to our
campaign this year.
Close to 3000 people visited
our campaign site.

5. Good planning is half the battle…
Banita – Master of Envelopes
Szilvia
Master Baker
Mikkel
Master of Socks
Ben – Master Chef
Richard
Master Bag Man
Naheed – Thread Master
At this event each homeless person received; a meal, a bottle of water, home baked cakes, a £30 gift card to
Argos, 3 pairs of thermal socks, 2 pairs of underwear, messages of hope and we also brought a selection of
sweaters, leggings and other clothing.

6. Words to Uplift and Inspire
I know you can climb the highest
mountains. Never lose faith in
yourself. Love Juliette from
Amsterdam
"No matter where you are in life,
always know that God loves you,
you are not forgotten and Believe!
You can make a difference - stay
positive, have kindness in all you do
and all you see, don't worry, stay in
the moment and never lose faith.
Love and allow yourself to be
loved!"
Jeni Brocato ~ NY, NY. Aka: Little Red
Bird Chirps.
Messages of hope and light contributed by our friends across the globe are handed out
with the gift cards. Below are a few examples.
I cannot begin to imagine the
hardships of life on the streets. I
hope the team today manage to
show you that you are in the
thoughts and prayers of so many
people who want to help. Society is
at it's best when we work together
and look after each other. Wishing
you the strength to pull through
these tough times and hope that
acts of kindness and generosity,
patience and understanding make
their way to you in order that you
can move towards safer living.
Thinking of you and hoping you are
able to find warm and safe shelter
this Christmas. Saher, London x
Dear friend, I want you to know that
we are thinking about you and we
care about you. Whatever you are
going through at the moment is
temporary because nothing is
forever. I pray that you will find
peace and happiness very soon and
I pray that your dreams will come
true. You are a gift to this world, you
are important and you are needed
here so never forget that. Keep safe
and well. Wishing you a happy
Christmas and New Year with lots of
love. Amera, London
We wish you light and hope and
love. You are brave and good, and
we hope this night will bring some
warmth into your lives. Merry
Christmas. Christine from London
"It's not over until you win."
Levente, London
You are always in my thoughts and
prayers. I wish you happiness and
peace in your journey. Sending you
so much love, XXX. Naheed, London

7. 5 Teams ready for Action
In one night we cover most parts of Central London.

8. Our Grandmother at Victoria
Meet Mary who was sitting lonely in a crowd at Victoria station. She ended up on the street after her home was
set on fire and she only just managed to escape. Imagine losing everything and then sliding right through the
cracks in society. Imagine one of those lovely grandmothers in the children’s books…now sitting on the street
under a blanket in the dirty rain. Mary told us few people talk to her but several spit at her as they walk by. Those
people must live in place less uplifting than the darkest dirtiest corner in London. If you see Mary around town
please look after our new grandmother.

9. A Lesson in Hospitality
The road to a life on the streets is paved with disappointing incidents which makes the pure and welcoming
attitude of most homeless to strangers even more impressive. We met Neil who is dealing with serious health
problems. Yet his spirit lit up the darkness as we approached him. He was quick to suggest we all sit on his new
sleeping bag to be comfortable as we spoke. And he had to fight back the tears as we gave him our food, clothing
and gifts. Imagine if we all took such an open and loving approach to strangers. There are many valuable lessons
about being human to learn on the streets. Neil thank you for reminding us that "a stranger is a friend you haven't
met yet".

10. Christmas Spirit on the Strand
Armed with Christmas jumpers kindly donated by Naheed Rana's dad we were bound to get some smiles and
laughs out of the homeless we met on Saturday. The trick worked on happy chappies John and Joseph who were
outside a fine men’s wear shop on the Strand. Amazingly these two had two sleeping bags surplus to
requirements which they asked us to take with us and find a more deserving home. These guys on the street are
to be applauded for the way they look out for each other.

11. The Music Man of St James
Meet the “Music Man” of St James. Two years ago we meet him and he played us a tune on his guitar. This time
he attracted us by playing some tribal rhythms with a wooden stick on the pavement. He had an audience of 2
and even some pyrotechnics for effect and more importantly to stay warm. He is such a humorous and lovely
man. We joined him for a bit of jamming with sticks. He kept repeating “I just love spirit of you guys” and we could
easily have spent the rest of the night with him and his 2 friends. Having a positive, open minded and caring spirit
can make a world of difference. In this case it made a difference to both our worlds.

12. Loving it at the Ritz
For the second year running we met Keith sitting outside the Ritz hotel on Night for the Homeless. We were out of
gift envelopes when we met him but luckily I’d been given 2 gift cards recently…one for Keith and one for his
partner. This man is lover, life fighter and comedian all in one person. The positive spirit he oozes is truly inspiring.
According to the commercials Christmas is all idyllic family time but in reality it is a time where many strained
family relationships are tested. If you are among those who will be tested in the next few days take a lesson from
Keith or the Dalai Lama. Whatever you are faced with don’t let it steal your inner peace and positive spirit.

13. …and so many other human beings

14. …full of love and gratitude
“Water, stories, the body, all the things we do, are mediums that hid and show what's hidden.”
Rumi

15. Next stop for the Under One Sky
collective will be bringing aid and
working in the Jungle refugee camp
in Calais at the end of January.
Contact
www.facebook.com/Under1Sky
A massive THANK YOU goes out to each of you who
supported our fund raising campaign. Your donations
are touching lives near and far. We hope this report
from the streets goes some way in proving that.