Hundreds of YMCA supporters from all over the country are packing their overnight bags and digging out the thermal socks as they prepare to sleep rough and raise money for the world’s largest youth charity.
The intrepid fundraisers are coming together in locations as far afield as Southend, Exeter, Doncaster and Bedford for the National YMCA Sleep Easy Week, running from Friday 3 to Friday 10 March.
They will take their place in cardboard boxes for the evening as they hope to raise funds and awareness about the plight of the homeless young people staying in YMCA supported accommodation every night of the year. Many of these young people are former rough sleepers themselves and it is hoped that one night out will make a lifetime of difference to those who need help to rebuild their lives and start again.
Spaces are still available at local events. Find out sign up details at www.ymca.org.uk/sleep-easy
A number of notable names have already signed up for their local Sleep Easy, including TV personality, designer and upcycler Max McMurdo who is taking part in the YMCA Bedfordshire event..
Max said: “I’m getting involved with SleepEasy17 here in Bedfordshire having seen first-hand the challenge our local rough sleepers face.
“Last year, instead of a work Christmas party the Reestore Team and I went out on the streets to hand out sleeping bags and it left me really wanting to do more practically.”
£1m has been raised for YMCA over the past seven years through its Sleep Easy events with more than 6,000 people bedding up for the night for the cause.
The National Council of YMCAs have been helping to coordinate the national fundraising week this year and Director of Fundraising, Niamh Neville, said: “The equivalent of 36 young people are made homeless every day in England making our Sleep Easy events more important than ever to raise awareness of the issue.
“A huge ‘thank you’ goes out to everyone who has put their name down to bed up in their local community already. There are just a few days left to register to take part at most local YMCAs, so I’d recommend everyone gets to the website today to make a lifetime of difference to the young people YMCAs are working hard to support.”
Andy Winter is Chief Executive of YMCA Coventry and Warwickshire, which is hosting its event on Friday 3 March.
Andy said: “YMCAs across the country are holding Sleep Easy events at the same time to raise much needed awareness of the plight of rough sleeping among young people.
“We are calling on the local community, old and young, to sign up to the YMCA Sleep Easy Week to help us support local young people today and into the future.
“We believe that no young person should ever have to be homeless let alone sleep rough. The more people who get involved in the sleep out, the more young people we will be able to help with our work in the local area.”
YMCAs signed up to take part in the national YMCA Sleep Easy Week are YMCA Exeter, YMCA Mendip, YMCA Somerset Coast, YMCA Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, YMCA Cheltenham, YMCA East Surrey, YMCA Black Country Group, YMCA Doncaster, YMCA Coventry and Warwickshire, YMCA Derbyshire, YMCA Bedfordshire, YMCA Lincolnshire, YMCA Norfolk, YMCA Thames Gateway, YMCA South Devon and Southend YMCA.
There’s still time to sign up for your local event. Visit www.ymca.org.uk/sleep-easy for details of what’s happening near you
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YMCA in England and Wales
- YMCA in England and Wales is made up of 116 member YMCAs working to ensure young people have opportunities to thrive and contribute positively to their communities.
- YMCA operates in almost 740 different communities across England and Wales impacting upon the lives of more than 630,000 people every year.
- YMCA provides a home to more than 18,000 people experiencing homelessness each year making us largest voluntary sector provider of supported housing for young people in England and Wales.
- YMCA in England and Wales enables more than 68,000 people every year to engage in education and training to enable them to improve their opportunities in the job market.
- With 60 gyms and 125,000 people engaged in our health and wellbeing services, YMCA is the largest voluntary sector provider of services promoting physical activity in England and Wales.
- YMCA provides mental health advice and counselling for more than 17,000 young people every year.