post
Sleep Easy 2016
Join the Challenge!
Corporate Information Sheet
Spend a Friday night under the stars for a unique business networking opportunity – and help us beat youth homelessness
When: Friday 18th November Where: Peterborough Cathedral Time: 7pm – 7am Entry Fee: £15 + suggested donation of £50 per person
What is it?
Sleep Easy is a national YMCA fundraising initiative. Since the event began in 2010, almost £1million has been raised by hundreds of people who choose to sleep rough for just one night on behalf of YMCAs across the UK.
The aim is simple: spend a night challenging yourself to sleep rough, raising money to help change the lives of vulnerable young people. All the money you raise goes directly to support our accommodation services in Peterborough.
What is homelessness?
Over 3,500 people sleep rough in the UK every night. Hidden homelessness is a major problem in the UK with over 80,000 young people face homelessness every year, three times official figures.
Homelessness is defined by the Government as ‘having no permanent home to go to’. The reality is you don’t have to be on the streets to be considered homeless, many homeless young people ‘sofa surf’ relying on the goodwill of others for a bed for the night and in some cases many years.
Imagine how you would cope if you became homeless through no fault of your own. Maybe you were fleeing an arranged marriage? Or escaping from physical, mental or sexual abuse? Or your parents have found a new partner who simply doesn’t want you around? Where would you go? How isolated would you feel?
Homeless people’s lives can get out of control very quickly; they can find themselves moving from place to place sometimes daily, often sharing their living space with strangers. With limited access to support and financial help serious issues can often occur, but it doesn’t have to be like this.
YMCA Cambridgeshire & Peterborough provides emergency and short term accommodation for homeless young people. In 2015 our Time Stop emergency accommodation in Peterborough was able to provide a safe place to stay for 136 young people who had nowhere else to turn. Through the one to one support Time Stop key workers provide, they have been able to facilitate 14 young people moving back home and 11 young people were able to move onto independent living in the community.
What will Sleep Easy Peterborough 2016 involve?
Starting at 7pm at our iconic Peterborough Cathedral location the night will involve activities that best replicate what it’s like to actually sleep on the streets. You will be provided with hot refreshments, entertainment and materials to make a shelter. However the reality is that many young people do not have the luxury of running water and toilet facilities as we will do in the Cathedral.
Sleeping in the grounds of the Cathedral you will experience what it’s like to get minimal sleep as you feel vulnerable to the elements and other people around. You quickly realise how cold it gets, even though you are able to bring your own sleeping equipment. At sunrise we will wake you up with a hot drink and breakfast before you return back to normal life after just one night on the streets.
Sadly for thousands of young people the reality is very different.
How to take part:
To make a difference to the life of a young homeless person in Peterborough simply spend one night sleeping rough in the grounds of Peterborough Cathedral.
Register yourself or your team by visiting www.theymca.org.uk/sleepeasy
Once you have signed up, don’t forget to tell your friends and family what you are doing to help young and vulnerable people in Peterborough. The more people who know about the issues surrounding homeless and what you are doing to help, the easier it will be to fundraise. All money raised will go towards YMCA Cambridgeshire & Peterborough accommodation services.
Register your place now and make a difference to a young homeless person!
Call: 01733 373188 Email: fundraising@theymca.org.uk
Website: www.theymca.org.uk/sleepeasy2016 Use the following quote when booking: YMCA-SleepCorp1