AN Ealing schoolboy has raised £1,100 for Glass Door Homeless Charity by spending a night sleeping in his garden.

This is not the first time James Hunter, 17, has slept out in order to raise money for Glass Door, but this year it was quite different due to the pandemic.

Hunter told Nub News: "It usually involves a massive number of people who all take their sleeping bags to Duke of York Square in Chelsea and we spend a night in the cold, in order to see what it's like to be homeless, even for just one night.

"This year because of social distancing we couldn't do that, so I decided to do it in my garden, in order to still raise money."

All that the teenager had was a sleeping bag and an umbrella but even that he said is more than what some homeless people have.

"It puts everything into perspective as to how lucky we really are, just because I live a comfortable and privileged life, doesn't mean everyone does."

The 17-year-old is a student at St Benedict's, a Catholic private school in Ealing and he believes his Catholic upbringing is what has helped him develop a conscience and think of others.

He said: "At school we're always taught to think of others and to follow good Christian morals, charity work has been instilled in us from a very young age."

advertisement

The teenager didn't have a monetary target in mind regarding fundraising, 'every penny counts' he thought.

He was shocked to find out however that he had raised nearly double the amount compared to last year.

"I couldn't believe it, last year it was around £600 and this year it was more than £1,100, thank you to everyone who donated.

"I also want to say thank you to the school for helping me get the word out and to all the parents who so generously helped support Glass Door, I know this money will make a lot of difference to those less fortunate."