Suits on the Street

On Thursday 8 November, businessmen and women in Bradford will be sleeping under the arches at Forster Square to raise awareness of the city's homeless.

The 'Suits on the Streets' event has been organised by Inn Churches, the local charity which provides emergency winter shelter in churches for homeless people in Bradford, Halifax and Keighley.

Juli Thompson, manager of the project, says businesses will be sponsoring their employees to sleep on the street for a night: "As well as raising money, we want to raise awareness of the situation and how anyone can become homeless; last year we helped a nurse, a social worker and a business man who'd become homeless for the first time."

In the last three years, the number of families and individuals classed as homeless and in need of emergency accommodation in Bradford has risen from 113 to 215.

Inn Churches this year will last for 15 weeks: 26 November-11 March.

Contact Juli Thompson on 07833 450482, email or visit innchurches.co.uk.

Friday 9 November at 6pm, a remembrance service will be held at Bradford Cathedral for people who've lost friends or family through homelessness or substance misuse.