A sleep-out event to raise money for a Nottingham homelessness charity has been cancelled over fears it could be disrupted by protesters.
Framework’s Big Sleep Out had been planned for Saturday, November 26 on Sneinton Market Square.
Organisers were planning to use the event to launch a new fundraising campaign but say it is being called off because activists “promised to disrupt it”.
Framework named the groups Fightback Nottingham and Opgroundzer0 as being among those who had planned action.
The groups denied they were planning to do anything to actively disrupt the Sleep Out, saying they had planned their own ‘peaceful event’.
Fightback have been involved in several activist camps in the city to draw attention to homelessness.
Framework Operations Director Michael Leng said: “The proposed action of these groups is entirely counter-productive. They claim to have the interests of homeless people at heart but are preventing public support for a realistic plan to help tackle the crisis of homelessness in Nottinghamshire.
“The activists have a clearly stated intention to disrupt the Big Sleep Out and to harass our supporters. We cannot ignore that threat and have a duty to act in the best interests of those supporters.”
Framework has been been holding its Big Sleep Out for more than 15 years.
This year’s event was expected to raise more than £30,000 to kick start a £230,000 fundraising appeal to support the growing number of people sleeping rough in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
Framework says up to 300 people including families with young children were expected to attend the 2016 event.
A spokesman for both Fightback and Opgroundzer0 said: “No event was planned to disrupt Framework’s event or occupy land on the day.”
They added: “We had no intention to occupy the land before or during Framework’s event. Merely to meet fellow good humans willing to help the homeless.”
A post on the Fightback group’s Facebook page about the Big Sleep out makes no mention of a protest but says: “Framework homeless charity Nottingham have created this event to raise money for the homeless…….but the homeless / rough sleepers aren’t welcome.”
The group set up a camp on Cliff Road in January, saying it did so to highlight the plight of homeless people in Nottingham. It was also involved in a similar event on Station Street.
Mr Leng added: “Since becoming aware of this issue we have worked extensively with Notts Police who have considered the matter at the highest level and have provided extensive consultation and support for which Framework is most grateful.
“The Police could no doubt keep the event physically safe but they would be unable to stop the non-physical harm that would occur in this public place and their presence would inevitably change the nature of the occasion.”
He added: “The timing is also poignant: rough sleeping has more than doubled in England since 2010 and is at the highest levels in Nottingham for nearly 20 years: only last week 38 rough sleepers were found on a single night in the city. ”
Framework Chief Executive Andrew Redfern said: “It is about the well-being and safety of participants. Faced with what we know and the advice we have received, we simply cannot go ahead with this event with this threat hanging over it.
“We cannot invite supporters – including families with young children – to an event where we know there is a possibility of disruption and disorder.
“Sneinton Market is a wonderful venue for this event but its exposed location makes it difficult to secure adequately in these circumstances. Although security is provided at the Big Sleep Out, by way of guards and fencing, it is not designed to deal with the threat posed by the protesters.
“So Framework has, with huge regret, decided to cancel this year’s event. This is undoubtedly one of the most difficult and disappointing decisions we have ever had to make but have concluded, after weighing up all the options and consulting the police, that the only safe option is to cancel this year’s Big Sleep Out.”
Framework says it is contacting everyone who planned to attend the event to inform them of the cancellation.
