It’s a sad fact that some people don’t have a choice about where they make their bed at night, no matter what the time of year or how cold the weather.
YMCA East Surrey is calling on residents to come together and sleep rough for one night in March to support local, homeless young people.
The local charity, based in Redhill, is hosting a Sleep Easy fundraiser at the YMCA Sports and Community Centre in Earlswood on Saturday 4th March from 7pm to 7am. The event will see participants sleeping under the stars for an evening to not only raise money but also awareness of youth homelessness.
This year is the first ever Sleep Easy Week and YMCA East Surrey is one of 11 local YMCAs across the country that have joined forces to host events between Friday 3rd and Friday 10th March.
Hundreds of supporters are expected to sleep out all over the country, raising vital funds to help YMCA continue to support young people who find themselves homeless. Sleep Easy has raised more than £1million since it was launched in 2010.
This will be the 5th Sleep Easy event for YMCA East Surrey. In the last year, 88 young people at risk of homelessness found a home at the YMCA’s Hillbrook House in Redhill and their NextStep housing service secured private rented accommodation for their 700th family. It is hoped that this year’s coordinated fundraising week will help to raise even more funds as the numbers of rough sleepers of all ages continues to rise and pressures mount on the housing market.
Ian Burks, YMCA East Surrey’s Chief Executive, says: “We know from experience that without the support we offer, many more young people would be sleeping on the streets and have less options and less chance of realising their potential.
“We are calling on the local community, old and young, to sign up to our YMCA Sleep Easy event on Saturday 4th March to help us support young people in our services today and into the future. One night out can make a lifetime of difference.”
