An Aberdeen University medical student has chosen to live on the streets during the festive season to raise cash for the homeless.
James Beavis, who is in his first year studying medicine, will spend 31 days sleeping rough in London to support the national homelessness charity Crisis.
Mr Beavis is existing off what little money people drop into his hat and is enduring cold nights in a sleeping bag until January 9.
He has no contact with his friends, family or loved ones – in the same way that thousands of people are forced to live every day in the UK due to circumstances outwith their control.
He is aiming to raise £25,000 for the charity, and is already a week into the challenge, but Mr Beavis admitted the reality of homeless life was far worse than he could have imagined.
He said: “I volunteer every year with Crisis at Christmas, and the charity struggles for money, as all charities do.
“In the last four years, homelessness has gone up so much across the UK, everywhere from London to Aberdeen – it’s a huge issue.
“I wanted to do this challenge to raise as much money for Crisis as possible and make a difference for homeless people, and, hopefully, change people’s attitudes towards the homeless at the same time.
“People are looking at me with absolutely no respect ever since I’ve started this.
“I have been shouted at, abused, and even spat on, it is horrible.
“It’s absolutely the worst feeling in the world, it is so lonely, and people ignore you so much that you don’t even feel human.
“I’ve been sleeping under archways, in doorways and, right now, I am staying overnight in a construction site and all I’ve got is about £6.38.
“That has to be spent as soon as possible on food – some for me, and some for actual homeless people.
“Getting through this is going to be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life, but it will all be worth it if I can make even the smallest difference.”
To donate to Mr Beavis’ cause, visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/JamesBeavis, and visit www.facebook.com/homelessatxmas for daily updates on his challenge.
