Army Scripture Reader Sleeping Outside To Raise Money For Charity

An Army scripture reader is raising money to help military veterans by sleeping outdoors for an entire month.

Gavin Dickson is taking part in the Great Tommy Sleepout in aid of the Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) which supports the Armed Forces, people with disabilities and those who are unemployed.

"I want to help, and I think that's not only a Christian thing to do but a British thing to do, a human thing to do," he told Forces News.

After nearly 14 years serving in the Scots Guards, Mr Dickson is now one of the few Army scripture readers in the country.

"My job consists of three elements: I love drinking tea, I love eating cake and I love talking about Jesus – and that is pretty much my day," he said.

He added: "At normal times you'd find me in camps kind of floating around [and] having chats.

"We're here as another element of pastoral support and to give a practical demonstration of the Christian faith."

Mr Dickson has already spent a few weeks sleeping in his tent outdoors and has admitted the challenge is taking its toll on him.

"My biggest challenge is I'm not 21 anymore, so my body, after many years of military service, has all the things that someone who's served a good number of years will feel.

"I've got sore knees, I've got [a] sore back and I didn't realise how sore it was sleeping on the floor again," he said.