Dingwall Scout troop helps highlight homeless plight

COMMUNITY-spirited scouts from Dingwall have done their bit to highlight the plight of the homeless and those living in extreme poverty at a special charity Sleep Out event in the Highlands.

Members and supporters of the 1st Dingwall Scout troop were among 30 people who bravced the cold outside Tesco in Inverness Shopping Park at the weekend.

The event was designed not just to flag up the issues faced by the homeless but also to raise cash for four charities – Gateway, Inverness Foodstuff, the STV Children’s Appeal and MFR Cash for Kids.

Scout member Lorraine Gillespie said: "We have done a lot of camping at the scouts but this is our first time doing something like this.

"I thought it would be a good way to help raise money for different charities."

Susan MacRae and Liz Sutherland, from Tesco, believed it was important to raise awareness in Inverness too and took it upon themselves to organise the city’s first ever sleep out.

Ms MacRae said: "We noticed these events being organised in other cities and thought it was something that should have came here too.

"Homelessness does exist in Inverness and it is important to raise awareness about it."

"I thought the night went really well but it should have been busier.

"It was an eye-opening experience and there is an interest to host the event again next year."