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Local people helped to raise £10,650 for YMCA Cambridgeshire & Peterborough at a local fundraising event last week that saw them sleep out for the night in Cambridge.
More than 30 people took part at the event on Friday 3rd March 2017, helping to raise money but also awareness of the work of the local charity for young people. Participants paid an entry fee of £10 and slept on DIY cardboard beds.
It was all part of the national YMCA Sleep Easy Week that saw 11 YMCAs come together over seven days to promote their work with young people.
The total amount of money raised exceeded the original target of £7,000, and beat last year’s total by over £4,000. All money raised will be used to support YMCA Cambridgeshire & Peterborough’s services for children and young people in Cambridge.
Jonathan Martin, YMCA Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Chief Executive, said: “This was the first time we teamed up with other YMCAs for the national Sleep Easy Week. We’re thrilled with the success of the event and I’d like to thank everyone who took part and spent the night out with us despite the cold and wet conditions. Your efforts and commitment are very much appreciated.
“As a participant, I think like most people it really opened my eyes to what it must be like to sleep rough. Cold, wet, vulnerable, very little sleep and aching all over. We were lucky that it was for one night, whilst for rough sleepers it’s every night. It must be very disheartening.”
Nicholas Bewes, Chief Executive of the Howard Group, took part in the event: “The Howard Group was delighted to be a part in the 2017 Sleep Easy event. Not only does this event increase awareness of homelessness and the problems associated with it, it also encourages financial support enabling YMCA to help tackle the challenges of homelessness and those affected by this within our society. It was a sobering event to be part of, however, our discomfort was short-lived and temporary, contrasting with those who have to face homelessness night after night.”
YMCA Cambridgeshire & Peterborough has operated in the area since 1852 and works with over 450 young people providing accommodation for young people who have founds themselves in a homeless situation.
YMCA Cambridgeshire & Peterborough is a part of a federation of 133 independent YMCAs, forming the oldest and largest youth charity in the world. Other YMCAs that took part in the national Sleep Easy Week include YMCA Exeter, YMCA Somerset Coast, YMCA Cheltenham, YMCA East Surrey, YMCA Black Country Group, YMCA Doncaster, YMCA Coventry and Warwickshire, YMCA Derbyshire, YMCA Bedfordshire and Southend YMCA.
If you are interested in making a donation or volunteering for YMCA Cambridgeshire & Peterborough please visit www.theymca.org.uk.