Graham Potter spends night sleeping rough to highlight plight of homeless

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Graham Potter Spends Night Sleeping Rough To Highlight Plight Of Homeless
Brighton boss Graham Potter
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By Andy Sims, PA

Brighton boss Graham Potter recently spent a night sleeping rough on the streets for a homelessness charity and insisted on Thursday: “It’s the least we can do.”

Potter, his assistant Billy Reid and first-team coach Bruno joined The Big Sleep Out last Friday night to raise awareness and funds for the homeless in the city.

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The event was organised by local charity Off the Fence to support the homeless community.

Brighton boss Graham Potter (BHAFC/Bennett Dean handout)

“I’m a patron of that particular charity so I’m involved with them,” said Potter.

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“We slept rough, we had one night, it was a very easy experience of the reality of what homelessness is.

“Unfortunately it’s prevalent in Brighton and Hove so it’s something as a club we look to support and raise awareness of. It’s a horrendous thing.

“If we can raise the profile of the charity which is doing a fantastic job, and if we can raise money to make a difference to people, it’s literally the least we can do.”

it’s prevalent in Brighton and Hove so it’s something as

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a club we look to support and raise awareness of. It’s a horrendous thing.
Homelessness charity Shelter said last week it was disappointed that its request for Premier League clubs to wear their away kits on Boxing Day, in an initiative called #NoHomeKit, was refused.

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But Potter believes using his profile and that of the Premier League can make a huge difference.

He added: “From my perspective you’ve got to try to do your best to raise money, and raise awareness, if that’s what can make a difference to people’s lives.

“The reality is I spent one night on the streets, then I packed up the car and drove home. So I have no idea what it’s like to be homeless.

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“Even after one night there it doesn’t bear thinking about but it’s the reality for a lot of people, especially with the nights coming in and winter arriving. It’s cold and you see how difficult it is.

“The profile of the Premier League and being a Premier League head coach, all of a sudden it’s my name but I don’t mind. I want to raise the profile of the charity On The Fence and the fantastic work they do.

“Homelessness is an issue. I’ve always felt you judge a society by how you treat its most vulnerable and to see people on the streets is disturbing.

“I live in Brighton and Hove, I walk around the streets and I’m part of the community. I see the challenges, the problems, the reality for people on a daily basis.

“I’m sure in Manchester, or Birmingham, you’ll see the same problems. It’s something that’s important to me and if I use my profile to raise awareness and make things a bit better for somebody then that’s great.”

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