Sleeping outside to highlight plight of homeless
This year’s Sleep Easy event will see 50 people braving the cold to raise funds and awareness of homelessness in Lincolnshire.
Next Friday, March 6, they will spend a night under the stars and sleep in cardboard boxes on the Dean’s Green of Lincoln Cathedral.
Now in its 15th year, Sleep Easy has previously raised over £100,000 for YMCA Lincolnshire’s emergency accommodation, the Nomad Centre in Lincoln.
With concerning statistics around homelessness in the UK increasing every year, the charity says it is now more important than ever to raise the essential funds needed to run the Nomad Centre.
“In the UK in 2024, 1,611 individuals experiencing homelessness died, 11 of which were children. These are not faceless statistics; they are lives cut short,” said Helen Wright, Director of Housing at YMCA Lincolnshire.
“We want to save the lives of those at risk of homelessness and support them every step of the way on a journey to independence and a brighter future. Not only does our emergency accommodation provide a bed and a warm space, our 24/7 wrap-round support ensures every individual has the resources they need to take on their journey.”
Lincoln Cathedral won’t be the only place in the city where people will be sleeping outside, as hosting their own version of the fundraising event is Ruddocks.
“While the main Sleep Easy event takes place at the Cathedral, we felt strongly about creating a satellite event at Ruddocks to broaden awareness and engagement within our community,” said Paul Banton, Managing Director of Ruddocks.
“On 6th March, we’ll be swapping our warm beds for a cold night under the stars (and quite possibly some Lincoln drizzle) as a team. Fundraising for YMCA Lincolnshire reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting those facing poverty locally, and by sleeping outside at Ruddocks, we’re getting involved and standing alongside people who don’t have a safe place to call home.
If it encourages even a few more people to give what they can, then it will have been well worth a chilly night.”
Helen added: “Lincolnshire has a vast and rich history of which YMCA Lincolnshire and Ruddocks have both been part of for over 100 years, and it is great to collaborate with an organisation that has served Lincolnshire for so many years.”
For more information and to get involved, visit lincsymca.co.uk/sleepeasy
