Header Logo

Sleeping under the Stars – My experience sleeping rough to help end youth homelessness

Stepping Stone House are Lotus People’s chosen charity partner, their mission is to change the situation of youth homelessness in Australia. SSH was founded in 1989 and is an award-winning organisation that provides accommodation and personal development to help homeless and at-risk youth become independent and the very best they can be. Lotus People have partnered with Stepping Stone this year to do peer to peer career mentoring and are extremely passionate about the work that they do.


This year Lotus also took part in Stepping Stone’s annual Sleep Under the Stars event held on Friday 1st of November. Their annual Sleep Out involves sleeping rough under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, building your own shelter with cardboard boxes and really experiencing what it is like to spend the night without the comfort and security of having a roof over your head.


I was a bit apprehensive before participating, after all, I had no idea how to engineer a sturdy shelter to withstand the winds. The main issue with my previous sentence is the use of the letter “I”. This event was a fantastic team building opportunity, the Lotus People & Sustainability teams really came together and built a shelter that we were not only proud of, it actually kept us warm in the cold and stayed standing in the wind!


Once we had built our shelters a couple of judges came around to judge who would win ‘best shelter’. Although this event is hosted every year to raise awareness of youth homelessness, Stepping Stone House does try to make the event as interactive and fun as possible.


Afterwards there were speeches from a variety of speakers including Kyle Sandilands who experienced youth homelessness first hand. One speaker in particular gave a harrowing speech on her own experience of how Stepping Stone House changed her life – there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.


If I hadn’t already been passionate about the SSH charity beforehand, I came away feeling completely and utterly awestruck and inspired by the incredible work that they do. The whole experience was topped off by watching the sun rise over the opera house in the morning whilst everyone packed away and recycled their cardboard constructions.


If you have not participated in the Sleep Under the Stars event, I implore you to do so. You don’t have to have a huge group and it’s something that family, friends and kids can get involved in too. It is a fun, informative and impeccably run event and best of all, you get to see firsthand how the money you have raised genuinely changes lives.



You can donate to Stepping Stone House through the Lotus People Everyday Hero page here

You may also like...

November 13, 2024
When embarking on a job search journey, it’s essential to look beyond the salary and delve into the comprehensive benefits package offered by potential employers.
October 21, 2024
A diverse and inclusive workplace isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential for fostering a positive and productive environment, especially in the membership bodies and associations sector, where strong values are a key driver of operations. While large corporations may have greater resources to implement extensive diversity strategies, membership organisations, often smaller in size and resource-limited, can still make a significant impact through focused, intentional steps. Prioritising diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) within your organisation can lead to increased engagement, more innovative problem-solving, and a stronger sense of community within your team and association. By embracing these principles, your organisation can create a more welcoming environment for all employees and members. But how can associations create meaningful change with limited resources? Here’s how your organisation can develop a DE&I strategy that aligns with your values and fosters inclusivity:
October 10, 2024
As we approach 2025, keeping employees happy and engaged remains a critical priority for organisations across all sectors. A happy workforce is more productive, innovative, and loyal, and with the ongoing evolution of workplace dynamics, strategies that worked in 2024 must now adapt to meet the challenges ahead. This blog explores actionable strategies to ensure your employees remain satisfied, motivated, and ready to thrive in 2025.
More Posts
Share by: