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Sleeping rough so others don’t have to
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| Thursday 26th January 2012 |
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Two Housing Support Workers from L&H Homes in Grimsby, Maggie Winship and Helen Martin, will be sleeping rough overnight on February 3rd as part of the Sleep Easy campaign which is organised by the Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Humberside YMCA.
The aim of the campaign is to highlight awareness of youth homelessness, as well as raising money to help local support services.
Maggie said of the upcoming challenge: "When I found out about this initiative, I knew I wanted to take part to find outwhat a night without a bed might feel like on a personal level. The campaign is closely linked to our work at L&H Homes too, where the Housing Support Team and the Stepping Stones Team do a lot to help people find somewhere to live and to maintain their tenancies.
"Even though it is only for one night, the experience will give us a much better understanding of what others endure; we have to make our own shelter from cardboard and sticky tape and deal with the bitter cold."
Helen commented: "The Sleep Easy campaign is really effective. It carries a very strong message about the conditions that homeless people face on a nightly basis and helps to raise money - as well as awareness - for local support services.
"Since we signed up, our colleagueshave been extremely supportive and we're really grateful. I think taking part in the event will definitely help us fully appreciate the work that L&H Homes, the YMCA and other organisations do to tackle homelessness."
Last year's Sleep Easy campaign in Grimsby raised nearly £15,000 and organisers are hoping that the 2012 campaign can raise at least £25,000.
Jerome Whittingham from Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Humberside YMCA said: "This is a very challenging event for everyone involved and the support we have from the public and corporate teams is fantastic. With well over 200 people participating from across the Humber region, this is likely to be the largest fundraising sleep out event in the UK this year."
The Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Humberside YMCA hostel accommodates up to 98 young people at any one time and around 300 women and men access its support service for homeless young people each year.
Jerome Whittingham, Manager & Sleep Easy Co-ordinator added: "Due to the current economic hardship that many local families are enduring, and changes to the benefits system, it is likely that more families will break up, and more young people will find themselves in the seemingly hopeless situation of having no place to call home. The GCHR YMCA supports local homeless and disadvantaged young people, providing comfortable accommodation by night and a range of life-changing support services by day. Every pound raised by this year's Sleep Easy campaign will be spent ensuring that our work with homeless young people can continue to deliver results."
The overnight Sleep Easy challenge will be held at Blundell Park, the home of Grimsby Town FC. Volunteers will be sleeping rough in their cardboard beds on Friday, February 3, from 6.30pm to 6.30am.
If you would like to sponsor Maggie and Helen please visit https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/maggiewinship1 or https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/helenmartin1 |
| Posted by 0 for Ealing London Borough |
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