Skye is no limit for Sarah-Jane

Living in the Western Isles hasn’t prevented Sarah-Jane Reid from participating in Social Bite’s mass fundraising sleep out events over the years. In fact, since December 2015 Sarah-Jane has held three sleep outs, which she organised herself at the Kyleakin Village bus stop on Skye, and has raised in excess of £12,000.

On the first occasion, in 2015 she did the sleep out alone, but in 2017 was accompanied by two friends – Laura and Lee, and in 2019 her boyfriend Gordy joined her. This year she plans to do a fourth sleep out, but to invite other people, with the intention of making it a real community event.

“There are always so many visitors on the night who come along for a chinwag and support,” she says.

“Being from Kyleakin, a small village of around 400 our community spirit is amazing and the inclusion you feel is so lovely. I’m so glad to be part of it.”

What made you do it?  I’ve lived in Melbourne, Glasgow and Middlesbrough over the last 10 years and every time I see a homeless person it really hits me hard. Growing up on Skye it’s not a sight we see and it’s all too easy to forget about all the people on our streets. When I moved back to Skye in 2015 I decided to do the sleep out in hope of raising £500. The first sleep out raised over £4,000, I couldn’t believe it! I was so proud of all the people who had donated towards this amazing figure.

Why did you choose Social Bite? Social Bite is amazing. The fact you are driven by cause rather than profit makes fundraising for you even more attractive. There are so many things I love about the charity, especially the employment programme through the cafes. The Social Bite Village ticks all the right boxes in all its aims and I think it’s just a wonderful way to break the cycle. I want to continue to support Social Bite the best I can to keep the concept growing.

How did you publicise the event? Through Facebook, and over the years a couple of local papers have put press out on the event which has been great! It still blows me away every year how far the just giving page spreads. People all over the island donate and send messages of support.

Did you run into any problems? In 2015 it was blowing a real hoolie with thunder and lightning so it was quite the experience. Last year temperatures went below freezing, so we really did feel the pressure people who are rough sleeping face throughout the winter.  It’s always a tough night, but it was our choice, others don’t have that choice. You have time to reflect and, as a result, it puts it all in perspective and gets you through the night.

Do you feel you got anything out of it yourself? It’s an extraordinary experience, it gives a real understanding of the hardship people go through and it’s so great to know the money raised is going to help Social Bite in its effort to end homelessness in Scotland. I get so much out of it!

Would you do anything like this again? I really want the Kyleakin Sleepouts to be something others on Skye want to join in with. It really is a rewarding experience. It is so easy to become complacent about our own home comforts, and to forget about others less fortunate. I hope to continue to do my bit to help reduce these alarming homeless figures we have today.