21 June 2011

YMCA will be holding their annual school sleep-out event in partnership with George Salter Collegiate Academy on July 1st 2011.

 The Sleep Easy event, which is fast becoming a major landmark on the fundraising calendar, raises awareness of youth homelessness as well as vital funds to support the YMCA’s work with children and young people.

Students from the Sixth Form will spend one night sleeping in a cardboard box, just like many people are forced to do every night! There will be hot food and drinks to keep the hunger, and the cold at bay – something that those who have to sleep rough don’t have the luxury of.

During the evening students will have to build and decorate a temporary cardboard shelter which will be their bed for the night. They will also have the opportunity to talk about youth homelessness with some of the residents from the YMCA based at Carters Green.

The ordinary corrugated boxes, which were kindly donated by Storage King will be exposed to the elements, and only offer marginal protection against the wind and rain. Wilkinsons and Morrisons have also supported the event through donations.

The following morning, after a hearty breakfast donated by McDonald’s, they will head home to their beds, their homeless experience over but not forgotten.

Vicky Storer, from George Salter Collegiate Academy, said: “We are very excited about the event and I know it’ll be an excellent life experience for our pupils – what’s more they will be helping young people build a future at the same time. I know we will all come away with a stronger sense of empathy for people who have had to sleep rough.”

 YMCA’s up and down England have been promoting Sleep Easy to help raise awareness of the issue of homelessness and raise money for their vital work in the community and with disadvantaged young people.

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