Seeing the issue in our own communities and having a very personal Aztek connection to it prompted us to act.
What’s it like to be sleeping out on the streets in Cornwall? Feeling cold, wet and anxious – and wondering what the next few hours have in store? We’re lucky enough to not have an answer to that question, but we did get a small insight into the plight of rough sleepers during the Eden Project’s Sleep Out for Homelessness on 13 November.
Aztek team members Gary, Patryk and Simon swapped their warm beds for sleeping bags and cardboard mats at the overnight event outside the famous biomes, which we attended to raise money for St Petrocs. This charity works hard to end homelessness in Cornwall, which is more common than you might think – 697 rough sleepers accessed its service in 2024.
‘Sleeping Out Was an Eye-Opening Experience’
The evening included cookery workshops, and music from Carclaze Voices and Noteability Community Choir, Cornwall-based singer-songwriter Suzie Mac and pianist Rhys Wynne-Jones. There were also talks from St Petrocs and fellow homelessness charity the Amber Foundation.
Of course, this roster of events reveals that our sleep out wasn’t about replicating homelessness. No one with a safe home to go to can truly understand the relentless discomfort and insecurity. It was more about gaining insight and raising awareness – and supporting our community. It was also a powerful learning experience for our team, as Gary reveals.
He says, ‘We did not get much sleep, but the experience was eye-opening and we only felt a fraction of what many people go through. Hearing from people who have lived through homelessness was incredibly impactful and made me appreciate how lucky I am to have a roof over my head and access to hot food and water. I am really glad to have participated.’
Markus’ Story – a Personal Account of Homelessness
Part of our reason for supporting St Petrocs was wanting to help homeless people on the streets of Cornwall. But another reason, very close to home, prompted us to get involved. Our Sales Development Representative Markus has first-hand knowledge of the devastating effects of rough sleeping.
He lost his father at 15 and, in his own words, ‘went off the rails’. Angry and confused, he missed exams, got in with a bad crowd and ultimately became too much for his mum, who threw him out. He became a rough sleeper.
He says, ‘I lived on the streets for around 28 months, being offered the occasional sofa at a friend’s house. But their parents would often want me out of their way within 24 hours, so I would sleep behind the back of the local supermarket under the heated fan. It gave me an hour or two of heat and some form of comfort. I would beg and borrow for any food and drink. The hardest part was dealing with cold weather and finding food.’
Markus’ story has a happy ending. A single mother with three children took him under her wing, included him as part of her family, and helped him rebuild his life. For this, he is eternally grateful.
What We Learned from Markus
Hearing Markus’ story has been educational and, frankly, deeply moving for our team. He’s put a human, relatable face to an issue it’s all too easy to brush over as ‘someone else’s problem’. His experience has also provided him with some deep insights, which we think are worth sharing.
He says, ‘In my experience, 90% of people think that you’re homeless because you deserve to be. Being seen as worthless and often feeling invisible was demoralising. There were days I did not want to be here anymore. My experience taught me to never judge a book by its cover and that no matter how tough life can be, there is often a way back if you are lucky enough to find it. Sometimes luck finds you. Never take life for granted and be grateful for all the small things.’
Supporting St Petrocs
We are proud to support St Petrocs and, thanks to the generosity of our clients, family, friends and our office bake sale, we have raised £667 (including Gift Aid) so far!
Finally, St Petrocs requires help all year round to help people experiencing homelessness in Cornwall. If you’re able to, please consider supporting them. There are many ways to do this – you can donate to a fundraiser such as ours, choose St Petrocs as your local cause on the Co-op App or donate clothing and other vital items directly to St Petrocs.