YMCA Downs Link Group raising money in Sleep Easy charity event

A group of youth workers and young people are spending a night sleeping outside to raise awareness of youth homelessness.
Fundraisers sleep outside to raise awarness of youth homelessnessFundraisers sleep outside to raise awarness of youth homelessness
Fundraisers sleep outside to raise awarness of youth homelessness

The YMCA Downslink Group are taking part in the Sleep Easy event on March 16 in conjunction with other organisations with an overall fundraising goal of £50,000.

In Horsham donations will go towards the group’s Life Change Fund and will be spent locally.

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This makes money available to young people in specific need who are otherwise prevented from taking up an opportunity for example providing training or education, that will be a significant step forward for them.

The Horsham Sleep Easy is being organised by Matt Lee, student youth worker, Judi Cox, parish youth worker, and Jane Gorrie, a verger at St. Mary’s church, Horsham.

Judi said: “2018 will be the third year running that I have slept in my cardboard box to help raise money and awareness of the issues of homelessness for our young people.”

Judi described how the challenge is uncomfortable. damp and cold ‘but it really makes you think’.

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She added: “It’s one thing to do this for one night, and grit your teeth to get through it - knowing you are getting a nice cooked breakfast in the morning.

“I can’t imagine doing it every night endlessly, with often very little hope in sight of anything changing, not even knowing what or if you will next get something at all to eat the next day.”

The event is open to anyone over 16 but participants under 18 require parental consent and should be accompanied by a responsible adult.

The start is around 8pm. Participants tend to wake early and leave around 8am after breakfast.

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Last year 123 people took part, raising over £47,000 for charity.

To donate to the event visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/hpsesl18 and to get involved in the Sleep Out email [email protected]