Liveryman Gary Gingell recently took part in the Lady Mayoress’ Sleep Out Experience, which sees Liverymen and Freemen from multiple Livery Companies spend the night sleeping outside at London’s Guildhall Yard to raise awareness of homelessness. Here, he explains what the experience meant to him.
When Liveryman Gary Gingell saw the Lady Mayoress’ Sleep Out event mentioned in the Worshipful Company of Builders’ Merchants (WCOBM) monthly newsletter, he didn’t just skim past it. He thought about it for half an hour and then decided he had to do something. What followed was a night he’ll never forget, an experience that changed his perspective on homelessness, and a fundraiser that proved just how generous the Livery Company movement can be.
“I’ve always been aware of homelessness,” Gary explains. “My son, who’s 17, gets really upset about it, and we always try to help out, especially at Christmas. But when I saw the Lady Mayoress’ Sleep Out Experience in the newsletter, it really hit me – here was a way I could actually do something rather than just feeling bad about it.”
So he signed up, determined to take part without asking for sponsorship and paying the £300 entry fee himself. But his partner convinced him to set up a fundraising page, because fundraising was part of the way to help raise awareness of the need to tackle homelessness, and before he knew it, he’d raised an incredible £1,800.
Gary, who is a Director at Nicholls & Clarke, says: “I was blown away by the generosity of people from my team and the wider building materials industry. It just goes to show how much people care about homelessness and how strongly they feel that it should be solved.”
Sleeping on the streets – for one night
Going into the Sleep Out, Gary says he wasn’t particularly worried. “I don’t sleep much anyway – only about four hours a night – so I figured I’d get through it.”
But the reality of spending the night on a concrete floor was something else entirely.
“There’s just no way to get comfortable,” Gary says. “I had two bits of cardboard, a one-inch foam camping mat, and a sleeping bag. I was sending silly pictures to my friends and family to keep my spirits up, but I only managed two 45-minute sleeps and one 30-minute sleep. By 5am I was up, had a coffee and a bacon roll, and started making my way home.”
A sobering wake-up call
The exhaustion really hit on the way back. “I was so tired I felt sick,” he admits. But what struck him even more was what he saw on the way home.
“The first person I saw as I made my way back was a homeless man lying in a doorway of an empty building. And that was it. I’d been uncomfortable for one night – safe, warm enough, and knowing I had a home to go back to. But that guy? He had no idea what the next night, or the next week, would bring.”
Gary reflects on how easy it is for anyone to fall into homelessness. “You’re only ever three bad choices away from it –losing a job, a relationship breakdown, maybe a run of bad luck. Once you’re out, it’s incredibly hard to get back on your feet. Without an address, you can’t open a bank account. Without a bank account, you can’t get a job. And nowadays, cash-in-hand work just isn’t an option.”
Community spirit and unexpected lessons
The event on 6 March was a powerful display of solidarity. Organised in support of Homewards (Prince William’s foundation) and the Pret Foundation, it saw 110 people take part, including 66 from Pret, with the company’s CEO leading the way and raising £10,000.
Gary explains: “There were people from all walks of life there – men and women, young and old, some who came in groups and others like me, who turned up alone. But by the end of the night, we were all in it together.”
The reality of the experience hit hard. “We were lucky – it was the warmest night of the year so far. But even with that, it was still uncomfortable and horrible. The thought of doing it night after night is unbearable.”
Despite the discomfort, Gary describes the experience as “an amazing sense of achievement” and he went straight from his limited night’s sleep to the Builders’ Merchants Federation (BMF) Regional Meeting in Moorgate. “Honestly, I don’t remember much about that meeting,” he laughs. “But it was worth it.”
Why the WCOBM’s charity work matters
The Sleep Out reinforced something Gary already knew; the importance of the Worshipful Company’s work – and that of the wider Livery movement – in giving back and supporting charitable endeavours. “I always make sure I read the WCoBM newsletters because I know how much effort goes into preparing them. And I’m so glad I read that one.”
Beyond raising funds and awareness, the Lady Mayoress’ Sleep Out event also sparked deeper conversations about homelessness. Gary says: “Most people who are homeless in London aren’t from London. There are so many reasons why someone can end up on the streets – addiction, abuse, just a series of bad decisions. And some people simply have nowhere else to go.”
One moment stuck with Gary the most. “When I was walking back to the station, I saw that homeless man and I gave him my sleeping bag. But that’s just one tiny thing. There’s so much more to be done.”
Would he do it again? “Absolutely,” Gary says without hesitation. “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I’m so glad I did it. And I hope every penny raised gets spent wisely because this is a problem that can and should be solved.”
He hopes more people will take part next year and that awareness continues to grow. “Homelessness isn’t just a London problem. It’s everywhere. If we can all do our part – donate, volunteer, even just start conversations – then maybe we can make a real difference.”
It all started with a newsletter, a moment of reflection, and a decision to take action. And that decision has already made a difference – the first of hopefully many on the road to tackling homelessness right across the country.
