Burton annual sleepout returns
YMCA Burton have announced that tickets are now on sale for their annual fundraiser – The Sleepout.
The Sleepout is a chance to spend the night sleeping outdoors or sofa surf somewhere to raise awareness and fundraise for the YMCA who operate homeless outreach facilities, housing, foodbank and mediation in the East Staffordshire Borough area.
The target funding to raise this year is £50,000.
The Sleepout will take place on Friday, 25 October and is being held in its usual venues of Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium and its XTREME event at St Modwen’s graveyard.
For those who are unable to attend these locations, they can do the sleepout at a venue of their choice, including their own sofa at home.
As the Burton & District Chamber of Commerce chosen charity of the year, the YMCA are urging members to participate. The Head of Burton District & Cannock Chase Chamber of Commerce, Richard Brooks, has also signed up.
The YMCA Sleepout is now in its 16th year and since it started it has raised over £440,000 since 2008. The youngest ever participant was 2 years old and the oldest person to take part was 93.
Chamber members Hardy Signs have been regular supporters of the Sleepout and marketing manager Blu Hardy said: “Taking part in XTREME Sleepout 2023 was a very humbling experience for my brother and I - we urge anyone to take part.
“YMCA Burton provide vital services for some of the most vulnerable members in our community and I had no hesitation in giving up my bed to sleep in a cardboard box and raise money to support those experiencing homelessness or needing help.
“Our Dad and managing director, Nik, has taken part in the Sleepout many times now, with some of the team at Hardy Signs. He even took part in the garden for their virtual sleepout during Covid when restrictions meant we couldn’t meet up.”
“Our future generation of leaders are invested in social justice and working for an employer who believes in giving back to their community.
“This is a value that we believe in passionately at Hardy Signs. Please consider supporting YMCA Burton as they launch their autumn fundraising campaign and Sleepout.
“None of us know if we will ever need to access their services so it is important to ensure we can support them to provide help to those in need.”
As YMCA Burton hope for a record-breaking year, CEO Paul Laffey said: “I will be back at St Modwen’s Church Yard doing my 16th Sleepout.
“We hope as many people as possible can join our Sleepout this year. We are humbled at the amount of people who take part every year and would like to thank them and their sponsors too as they help raise vital funds for our services.
“If you cannot take part at one of our venues then we would love for you to take part remotely, you can do this from your garden or even someone’s sofa, which will also raise awareness for the hidden homeless too.”
Click here to purchase tickets.
People unable to take part can sponsor the event, buy goods for the night. Alternatively businesses are also invited to sponsor a box that someone will sleep in from £150, which will include social media coverage with the sponsor name on a box during the evening.
Pictured: Blu and Callum Hardy at last year’s Sleepout
