Local residents and businesses are invited to spend the night at Victoria Baths on Thursday 28th November to support Centrepoint’s 50th Anniversary Sleep Out.
This year’s participants will take on the challenge of switching their duvet cover for a sleeping bag and swapping their bed for a hard floor for one night to raise awareness and vital funds for youth homelessness.
Money raised from the event will help Centrepoint to continue supporting the more than 2,000 young people in Manchester who are affected by homelessness. Support includes ensuring young people have safe and stable accommodation, develop the skills needed to live independently, and access assistance with their physical and mental health alongside access to training and education.
Manchester based Co-operative Bank is the lead sponsor of Sleep Out Manchester for the third consecutive year and once again there will be a large group of colleagues from the Bank taking on the challenge of spending the night in the cold and trying to sleep on a hard floor. The Sleep Out event is just one of a number of ways The Co-operative Bank is raising money for Centrepoint and is part of our ongoing charity partnership.
The event will be hosted by former cast member of The Bill and Hollyoaks, and long-standing Centrepoint ambassador, Lisa Maxwell and other guests include Coronation street favourite Sue Devaney.
Centrepoint’s annual Sleep Out events will see fundraisers across the country bed down without their home comforts for the night to raise £1,000,000 across the UK towards ending youth homelessness.
Hannah Jones, Regional Fundraising Manager at Centrepoint said: “While Sleep Out doesn’t aim to replicate the reality of homelessness, it is hoped that those taking part will get a better understanding of the challenges faced by young people who unfortunately find it as their reality; sleeping on the floor, facing the cold and getting through the next day with very little sleep.
“We have seen an increase in young people seeking Centrepoint’s support in Manchester and it is vital we raise awareness and funds to break this cycle.”
Andrew Bester, CEO of The Co-operative Bank said: “We’re proud to once again sponsor Sleep Out Manchester, an event which gives those taking part a small insight into the harsh environment some young people are faced with night after night. Our colleagues have committed to the success of this event over the last three years, and some are taking part for the second or third time, while others have been inspired to take part of the first time this year to help raise much needed funds for our charity partner Centrepoint. “Our customers and colleagues have already raised £1.1 million to support the valuable service of Centrepoint provides in the Manchester and across the country. We hope the event on November 28th will build on the great Sleep Out events in previous years and raise even more money to aid Centrepoint’s work with homeless young people who urgently need help and support to get out of crisis.”
The event will take place on Thursday 28th November 2018 and registration is open for participants: https://www.sleepout.org.uk/manchester
