Gerrards Cross resident, Mark Davey, will be exchanging the warmth and comfort of his bed for a chilly cardboard box on Friday 2nd December when he joins dozens of others at The Trinity Big SleepOut at the Hillingdon Athletics Stadium in Uxbridge in support of homeless people.

Mark, who holds down a high-powered job as Executive Vice President, International Solutions Group for FIS, the world’s largest provider of banking and payments technology, aims to help increase awareness of the plight of the homeless and raise vital funds to help Trinity Homeless Projects to continue its valuable work.

“Trinity is a registered charity focused on getting homeless people off the streets and back on their feet, through supported housing, training and employment programmes,” Mark explains. “The programmes play an important role in building individual confidence and providing stability, as well as helping them back into employment – goals which are even more relevant in today’s challenging economy.”

In the current economy, the spectre of homelessness looms for many, some of whom would never in their wildest dreams have considered it a possibility. There are countless stories of people who have been helped by Trinity. Peter James, a former resident and now a Trustee of the charity, sums up the importance of the work that they do very simply, “If it wasn’t for Trinity I wouldn’t be here today.”

“Charities like Trinity provide the basics to help get people through the day, surrounding them with friendship, advice and giving them the tools to make something of their lives,” Mark says. “It’s easy to ignore the significant contribution that charities like Trinity make to the community – and we hope we’ll be able to raise a decent amount towards its work.”

Andy Robertson, Communications Manager at Trinity said “It’s absolutely brilliant that Mark and many others like him have been moved to take part in the Big SleepOut. In the current economic climate the risk of homelessness is much greater for many more people. Trinity are at the cutting edge of a national crisis in a local setting, providing opportunities to climb out of homelessness and regain fulfilled and independent life.”

Mark knows he can expect some challenging conditions. Last year on the same date there was a severe temperature drop to well below freezing but the thousands of pounds that were raised made it well worth the discomfort. This year, they are looking to do even better. Readers who would like to sponsor Mark can do so at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Mark.Davey For more information about Trinity and the work they do, please visit: www.trinityhomelessprojects.org.uk or call Andy Robertson on 07960 081552 Based on information supplied by Claudia Kellermann.