News UK’s Chief Operating Officer, David Dinsmore, braved the cold on Friday night, sleeping in the grounds of Southwark Cathedral to raise vital funds for London’s homeless.

Dinsmore’s charity sleepout was raising money for the Robes Project, the only homeless shelter operating between London Bridge and Croydon to provide food, shelter, advice and support for 15-20 people sleeping rough in South London each winter night.

David has raised over £2,000 on his JustGiving page so far, with the whole sleepout event raising a whopping £71,000.

You can still donate to David’s JustGiving page here.

As well as the funds raised from our COO’s sponsored sleepout, News UK is donating £1000 to the cause and a prize worth £250 for their charity auction. We also invited Robes  into The News Building on 24th November to fundraise.  This builds on News UK’s commitment to local charitable causes, including the donation of 88 tablets to Southwark Libraries and a  £10,000 News Corp Giving donation to London’s Air Ambulance.

George Martin, Chair of the Robes Project Trustees said:

“On behalf of the Robes Trustees I thank all at NewsUK for your generous cheque of £1000. This money will go towards urgently needed bedding for our guests. Any donation helps the Robes Project run shelters for the homeless from November to April, in church halls in Southwark and Lambeth. Last year’s Sleepout enabled the project to provide 2,800 overnight stays, serve 5,700 meals and help bring 52 people in from the cold over winter. This donation will go towards beating surpassing last year’s total. Thank you!”

The Very Revd Andrew Nunn, Dean of Southwark said:

“The community at Southwark Cathedral is delighted with the generous support given by NewsUK to the ROBES Project. Caring for the most vulnerable in our society is an important work we can do together.”