A schoolboy has spent a year sleeping in a tent to raise money for a homelessness charity and aims to spend at least a further two years sleeping under canvas to beat the record set by ‘boy in the tent’ Max Woosey earlier this year.

Leeds 13-year-old Billy hit the one year milestone of camping in his garden this year to raise funds for homelessness charity Emmaus UK. His feat so far has raised more than £1,000 for the charity.

He had originally only planned to spend 100 nights in his tent and raise £150 but after beating this target he is looking to spend two more years in his garden to beat the record set Woosey, who spent three years sleeping in his tent, raising £700,000 for North Devon Hospice.

“We aren’t surprised that he has stayed out for so long, but that he’s only ever gone out to his tent in his PJs and sliders with a single duvet and sleeping bag is remarkable,” said Billy’s mum Sarah.

“He insisted on taking his brother’s Duke of Edinburgh Award tent when visiting his grandparents in South Wales, so that he kept up his camping out streak, likewise when going to a friends’ for a sleepover.

"When he started his adventure, he wasn’t aware of ‘the boy in the tent’ so now he is that’s appealed to his competitive streak.”

Funds raised by Billy has been passed on to Emmaus UK’s Leeds base to support local people who have experienced homelessness, poverty and social exclusion.

"Billy has not only exceeded both his original fundraising target of £150, he's gone above and beyond in this sleep out challenge to raise awareness of homelessness” said Emmaus UK fundraising officer Yuen Chu.

“It was fantastic to still have donations coming in as he carried on after his first 100 days, which then turned into a full year. This is a brilliant achievement. He’s done himself proud.

“Fundraisers like Billy are crucial to Emmaus communities, like Emmaus Leeds and will help the team improve the support they can offer to those experiencing homelessness.”

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