Dean Jo has swapped the Cathedral for a prison cell today as she joined a light-hearted fundraising challenge in support of Herts Young Homeless.

As part of The Great Escape, organised by Herts Young Homeless, a number of well-known figures from across the St Albans district were "arrested" and held at the St Albans Museum + Gallery on Friday 10 July. Their mission? Raise enough sponsorship to secure their release while helping prevent youth homelessness across Hertfordshire.

Herts Young Homeless works to prevent homelessness among young people aged 16–24 through education, family mediation, advice and support services. The charity believes youth homelessness is preventable and helps thousands of young people across Hertfordshire each year. 

Dean Jo is taking part because supporting vulnerable young people is closely aligned with the Cathedral's mission. Speaking about the challenge, she said:

"Herts Young Homeless do extraordinary work supporting young people at the most difficult and vulnerable moments in their lives.

"At the heart of Alban's story is giving a home to someone who was homeless and fleeing persecution. Working to ensure everyone has a safe home is part of our mission at the Cathedral. If spending a few hours in a cell, and persuading friends to help 'bail me out', helps raise awareness and funds for that work, then it feels like a very small sacrifice." 

In true Dean Jo style, she remained in good spirits about her incarceration, commenting that years of Cathedral meetings have taught her patience and that she may spend her time behind bars singing hymns—although donors might be motivated to give generously simply to make her stop.

The fundraising campaign aims to raise a £1,000 "bail" target for Dean Jo. Every pound raised will support hyh's vital work with young people facing or at risk of homelessness, and thanks to a partnership with Helping Herts, donations are eligible for match funding, doubling their impact. 

Help Bail Out Dean Jo

If you'd like to support Dean Jo and help Herts Young Homeless continue its life-changing work, please make a donation via her fundraising page:

https://helpingherts.enthuse.com/pf/the-very-rev-jo-kelly-moore

Every donation will help provide support for young people across Hertfordshire who are facing homelessness, while helping Dean Jo earn her freedom and return to the Cathedral.

Donate here