Arun chairman and Littlehampton mayor live on the streets for 24 hours

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The mayor of Littlehampton and Arun District Council’s chairman swapped their ceremonial garb for a cardboard box and sleeping bag to walk in the shoes of the homeless.

On Wednesday, September 9, chairman Amanda Worne, mayor David Chace and Arun vice-chairman Jim Brooks met at 7.30am for 24 hours on the streets of Littlehampton, sleeping in Mewsbrook Park.

As part of their challenge they could not buy anything – but The Arcade Lounge in Arcade Road donated chips to them, and a seafront café gave them leftover food at the end of the day.

Amanda came up with the idea to put the issue of homelessness back in the public eye with the colder weather approaching, adding that the numbers of homeless people had rebounded as lockdown eased.

Chairman of Arun District Council Amanda Worne, Jim Brooks, vice-chairman of Arun, David Chace, Littlehampton Mayor, all sleeping rough for a night to raise awareness of the issue of homelessness. Pic Steve Robards

She said it was ‘humbling’ to hear the life stories of the street community. One such moving account came from a former teacher who said he cared for his terminally ill mother until she died, but was then kicked out by his father and fell through the cracks of society before spending six months living on Climping Beach followed by a massive stroke.

The trio wandered the town, including Littlehampton High Street, where they stayed until 9.30pm. But David said they found it ‘a bit daunting’ so moved on to the park, where they slept on the ground with cardboard boxes and little more than the clothes on thei