Sleep Pod - An Emergency Aid for Rough Sleepers
On 7th March, I had the privilege to join the amazing Sleep Pod team for a session of building emergency sleeping pods for homeless people. As soon as I stepped into the venue, I could already feel that the day was going to be very inspirational! With reggae music playing in the background and everyone having big smiles on their faces, I could tell that all the volunteers (including myself) were just so eager to find out how these sleeping pods were made. The cofounders of Sleep Pod, Ian, Justin and Pete, gave us a warm welcome, put us in pairs and then started demonstrating the building process. I was astounded to see that these pods were made from the simplest materials – large foil sheets, bamboo sticks for support, and strong water/fire resistant tape – all put together to become an insulating, rain and wind resistant shelter for a vulnerable individual!
Once we had a rough idea of how it was done, we started building straight away. I was paired with the lovely Irantzu from Blueberry Creatives to build the pods together. By the end of the day, we managed to make 8 sleeping pods (not bad for a first timer I would say)! After folding the pods into their bags, I was also surprised at how lightweight they were, making it extremely convenient to carry around.
As the Sleep Pod team correctly pointed out, homelessness is never a choice; thus these sleeping pods are a meaningful solution towards providing temporary warmth, protection and insulation for those sleeping out during the colder months.
My takeaway from that day was that together, we can all contribute a little bit - whether it's by giving our time or other forms of donations, to help improve the quality of life for homeless people and others in need.
So, if you're looking to do something good, be sure to check out the Sleep Pod page. Currently we are in a period of uncertainty, but when this is all over they will be needing volunteers again, so please get in touch with them if you are:
- An individual looking to volunteer or donate towards such an amazing cause
- A company that would like to volunteer a time to build sleep pods with your colleagues
- A charity or outreach service that can help distribute more pods in your local areas!
Written by Thuta Khin.
Instagram/Twitter: @sleeppoduk