Sleep rough so others don’t have to

Date added: 13 February 2012

The YMCA is holding a sponsored event in early March to raise funds to help local disadvantaged young people build a future. Sandwell residents, including council members, are being encouraged to sign up to spend one night sleeping outside in a cardboard box, to support the YMCA's work for the youth in and around West Bromwich.

Every night YMCAs up and down the country provide rooms for around 7,000 young people who don’t have anywhere else to sleep. ‘Sleep Easy’ is a national YMCA campaign designed to raise awareness of youth homelessness across the UK.

Participants are asked to get sponsorship to spend one night sleeping under the stars at an organised event. The idea is to simulate sleeping rough, as many young people are forced to do every night.

The next Sandwell Sleep Easy event is being held at Warley Rugby Club on Friday 2 March, and the top individual fund-raiser so far is Sandwell Council’s very own CEO, Jan Britton. Both Jan and council leader, Darren Cooper,are already signed up to take part, so this could be your opportunity to spend the night with them!

The sleep out takes place from 7pm on Friday 2 March until 7am on Saturday 3 March, and hot drinks will be available throughout the night. Participants will get a well-deserved breakfast in the morning, so all you need to do is make sure you wrap up warm!

The money raised from this Sleep Easy event will be used to support the young people living at the YMCA in West Bromwich, to provide them with services to build their confidence, self-esteem and ultimately help them move into the community and live independently.

The funds raised from your sponsorship will go into the ‘Moving Forward Fund’, a grant that YMCA residents in Sandwell can apply for once they are ready to move on into their own accommodation. The grant enables them to purchase essential items as preparation for starting life in their new homes.

If you would like to sign up for this eye-opening but fun event go to the YMCA’s website www.wbymca.org.uk and follow the link on the homepage, you could even set up a team if you can convince a few others to join you!

So come on Sandwell, sign up to sleep under the stars and help raise invaluable funds for our young people. For one night only … sleep rough so others don’t have to!

For further information about the event visit our Events page, or email Grace Heeley on grace.heeley@wbymca.org.uk.