On Thursday 2 March over 200 property professionals braved the cold overnight at, Sale Rugby Football Club to raise over £70,000.
These funds will support the creation of desperately needed homes for young families (under 25s with children) who are, or who have experienced homelessness. Six brand new high-quality modular units, with enough space for a baby or young child, will be constructed at the Salford Foyer site which is run by Places for People.
Young parents will live in the properties for up to 2-years before moving into more independent living. They will receive support on site, including parenting skills, health and wellbeing, education and training and community involvement.
The Manchester SleepOut is one of 7 locations across the UK that hosted a LandAid SleepOut, as well as the option to get involved virtually, all taking place on the same night. These included Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Glasgow, Leeds, and London.
In total Thursday 2 March saw nearly 1,300 property professionals from across the UK come together to raise over £500,000 to support young people experiencing homelessness. Each region has been raising funds that will support a project local to them.
The LandAid SleepOut has been supported by headline sponsors Knight Frank, alongside regional sponsor Addleshaw Goddard in Manchester, while Sale Rugby Football Club very kindly lent the venue.
The event also received cardboard boxes from Crown Workspace for everyone to sleep on, and Hunter Ops kindly provided the signage required for each venue.
LandAid would like to congratulate those who completed a very challenging night and to give a huge thank you to all those who have helped make this event such a success!
Nicola Keaveney, Salford Foyer Service Manager, said: “We are thrilled at the prospect of providing 6 additional units for young family provision at Salford Foyer. Salford has seen a rise in families under the age of 25 living in unsuitable accommodation, or at risk of homelessness due to the lack of housing available in the area, which poses a real challenge for the local authority and young people.
“These additional units will give us opportunity to keep families together and offer them a safe place to call home. We aim to empower these young families to thrive and develop the skills to live independently within the local community. A big thank you to everyone who took part in the LandAid SleepOut, including members of the Salford Foyer Team, to help fund these units.”
Paul Morrish, LandAid’s Chief Executive, said: “A huge thank you to everyone who braved the freezing cold and slept out during the biggest LandAid SleepOut ever. It’s amazing to see the event grow year on year. The support we have received across the country has been incredible with 7 locations, as well as those sleeping out home, coming together for one very important cause.
“While the experience gives everyone a very good idea of how tough sleeping outside is, one night outside does not replicate the true reality of rough sleeping that faces thousands of young people all over the UK. Unfortunately, we know that this number is continuing to grow. With the efforts of hundreds from the property industry, we have raised enough funds to make a real difference by providing safe and secure places for young people who can now focus on building a brighter future, rather than worrying about their night-to-night sleeping spot.”
Addleshaw Goddard said: “Addleshaw Goddard has been a longstanding supporter of LandAid and its work. This year, we decided to endure one night outside at LandAid’s Sleepout on 2nd March 2023. Whilst this is a mere glimpse into the hardship people continue to face, we hope to raise awareness of youth homelessness and support our local community in Greater Manchester.”
If you would like to support, donations are still being accepted for the 2023 SleepOut, which can be made at https://join.landaid.org/
