THEY are more used to providing fun and entertainment to thousands of revellers every weekend.

But this dedicated team of fundraisers, featuring nightclub owners and promoters, will brave the cold during tonight’s Big Sleep Out in Southampton.

Hundreds of people are expected to wear their thermals and lay out their sleeping bags on Guildhall Square to take part in the event, which aims to raise awareness of homelessness.

The team, led by James Hilling, will be raising money for the Society of St James, the Basics Bank and Patrick House and hope to hit their target of £2,500.

James, who runs the Wash Up Warm Up project that supports homeless charities and projects in Southampton, will be joined by Ryan Keary from Switch nightclub, Gary Bennetton from Orange Rooms, Laura Smith from For Your Eyes Only, boxer Matty Tew, Holly Alexander, and Steve Copp from Cartland Garage Services.

So far this year James has collected more than 15 tonnes of clothes to help homeless projects in the city and will soon have a van donated by Carland Garage Services to further aid his collection efforts.

He told the Daily Echo: “This event supports vulnerable people in the city and it falls slap bang in the middle of what we do. This year I am concentrating on Basics Bank to raise money, awareness, and collect food and clothes.

“We have collected in the region of 15 tonnes of clothes – if you think about how much a pair of trousers weighs, that’s amazing.”

James is a former winner of the Daily Echo’s Hampshire Hero awards for serving food to homeless people on Christmas Day in 2012.

He said: “We have chosen this team to reach out to their respective friends and followers.

I cannot wait for it.

“It’s looking like it is going to be very wet, but it’s what homeless people have to deal with on a daily basis.

“Anyone that wants to come down and support on the night will be welcome.”

To help the team, visit justgiving.com/southamptonclubbing.