Imagine taking a walk past the red floodlights of the National Theatre, crossing the Thames with its dramatically lit bridges, and meeting enthusiastic revellers as they leave the nightclubs of Shoreditch. Then wander through the financial district, eerily quiet without office workers. Carry on towards the West End to mingle with the night owls of Soho, and as you head back towards the river there's the Big Ben, always standing majestically over the city regardless of the weather or what's been on the news that day.
This is the route of The Big London Night Walk, the walk organised by the Big Issue Foundation that raises funds to put Big Issue magazine sellers back on their feet. The money doesn't just help the vendors economically - it goes towards flu jabs, opening bank accounts, getting passports, buying outfits for job interviews, even getting library cards.
It's also a chance to understand what it's like to be homeless by meeting some of the vendors themselves. If you found yourself sleeping rough where would you bed down? A doorway, a bus shelter, a bench?
The Big Night Walk takes place on March 11th, it starts at 10pm and finishes between 2 and 5 in the morning, depending on how fast you want to walk. It's £25 to register and you're encouraged to raise a minimum of £200 for the Foundation. Or, if you don't like the idea of getting people to sponsor you, make a one-off donation instead.
Check out the event details here
