Four Cumbrian Freemasons will take on a three-night sleeping rough challenge to shine a light on the realities faced by homeless veterans and to start wider community conversations about support, mental health and long-term solutions.
Working alongside The Rawthey Project CIC, the Cumberland and Westmorland Freemasons, will sleep rough across the county from Friday, February 6 to Tuesday February 10.
Alongside exposure to the cold, wet Cumbria streets in winter, participants will be set practical tasks including applying for emergency housing, attending DWP and probation meetings, completing job applications and interviews, and managing simulated addiction and mental health pressures.
All of this will take place with no fixed address, limited phone credit, no internet access and nowhere to charge a mobile phone.
The aim is not fundraising theatrics but lived understanding, the Freemasons said.
Participants will experience the physical and mental strain of homelessness while navigating the same systems many homeless veterans must face every day.
Neil Dixon, of the Freemasons, said “Our initiative is about awareness, empathy and community involvement.
“By our members experiencing the system first-hand, participants hope to better advocate for veterans, strengthen local partnerships and encourage communities across Cumbria to play a role in supporting those who have served.
“The challenge forms part of our wider commitment to building friendships, serving communities and supporting those who too often go unseen.”
The exercise has been designed in consultation with beneficiaries of The Rawthey Project, many of whom have spent years homeless and understand how fragmented systems and everyday barriers can quickly become overwhelming.
Brian Capstick, founder of The Rawthey Project CIC, said: “Homelessness is often thought of as simply not having a roof over your head, but it’s far more complex.
“Our veterans are among the best of their generation. When poor mental health, addiction, financial crisis or relationship breakdown come together, the challenges can become insurmountable without support.
“There is help out there, but it’s often fragmented and doesn’t always reflect the practical reality of being homeless. This exercise by the eFreemasons does exactly what we need — it helps people understand those challenges and share them with a wider audience.”
An estimated one in 10 people experiencing homelessness in the UK are armed forces veterans. In response, the Government introduced Op FORTITUDE as a national pathway for veterans facing homelessness. With more than 1,000 veterans currently in emergency housing and around 42 referrals per day from veterans in crisis, demand continues to rise.
Brian added: “Identifying vulnerable veterans is only the first step. When veterans are ready to move on from Op FORTITUDE supported living, they need help rebuilding — finding housing, employment, community and peer support. Having Cumbria Freemasons standing alongside veterans in this challenge is invaluable.”
