Latest news with #BigSleepOut
BBC News
18-03-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Rough sleeping event in Peterborough an eye-opener
A homelessness event at Peterborough United's ground has raised more than £15, 70 people, including former rough sleepers and firefighters, braved the rain to take part in Peterborough's Big Sleep Out – an event that gives people an insight into what it is like living on the streets – at Posh's London Road event raised money for Light Project Peterborough and the Peterborough United Edgley, fundraising officer at Light Project Peterborough, said participants found the event "eye-opening", and he said he felt "proud to see so many people come together for a great cause". Light Project Peterborough has been supporting rough sleepers across the city since 2015 and runs The Garden House, a day respite centre offering support and Stubbs, who now works at Boroughbury Medical Centre, was helped by the project when he was sleeping said he wanted to "raise awareness of being homeless and to raise funds for a very worthy cause".Mr Edgley said the event went well despite the rain during the middle of the night, which led to a few people moving inside. He added: "I'm really proud that we had another successful Big Sleep Out event. The cold conditions made the experience an eye-opening one for many – especially those who braved it outside in the rain."It was wonderful to see so many new faces participating this year. I just want to say a big thank-you to everyone who took part and those who donated."Participants were treated to a live performance by local band Krispy Cod and were given hot drinks and than 700 donations have been made so far, with £15,878 Peterborough United Foundation provides sporting, exercise, and education programmes. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
14-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Peterborough: Dozens to sleep rough at football stadium for charity
A former rough sleeper, firefighters and charity volunteers are joining dozens of people to raise awareness of Big Sleep Out is being held on Friday for the second time at Peterborough United's football stadium to give people an insight into what it is like living on the event is raising money for Light Project Peterborough and the Peterborough United Foundation (Posh Foundation) who support a number of causes and communities across the far this year, about 70 people have signed up to take part in the event and have raised about £10,500. The Posh Foundation provides sporting, exercise, and education programmes across all ages and Project Peterborough has been supporting rough sleepers across the city since 2015 and runs the Garden House, a day respite centre offering support and Stubbs is a health and wellbeing lead at Boroughbury Medical Centre, in Craig Street.A former rough sleeper, Stubbs said he "was a mess" when he first came to Light Project Peterborough for help in 2023, and never thought he could "get to where he is now".He added: "I want to raise awareness of being homeless and to raise funds for a very worthy cause." Davina has been a volunteer at Light Project Peterborough for over five said: "Homelessness is a very big problem and one that doesn't seem to be going away soon. "This is the first time I am participating so I have no idea what it will be like. I believe in order to support someone properly you really need to experience it for yourself. So here I am."Members of Yaxley community fire and rescue station are also taking part in the Big Sleep Out, whilst remaining on call on Friday evening. 'Powerful experience' Matt Edgley, the fundraising officer at Light Project Peterborough, said: "Following feedback, we've tried to make this year's event even more realistic and insightful."He said it was "great" to see so many people, including former rough sleepers, showing support to the Foundation community manager Jenna Lusk said: "I hope it proves to be another powerful and eye-opening experience." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
07-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Northamptonshire homeless charity says sleep-out event is crucial
A charity that supports people who are homeless or at risk of losing their home is hosting its annual Big Sleep Out on Friday night for people to experience sleeping Hope Centre, in Northampton, has been running the event for over a decade and has raised more than £20,000 each in the event, which has the theme "Cold and Unseen", will sleep out for 12 hours with just a sleeping bag and a cardboard or plastic Williams, from the Hope Centre, said: "The sleep-out is so significant because it's a sign of solidarity – there's empathy and compassion built into it and without the sleep-out we wouldn't be able to support the numbers of people here today." 'I had no other options' Ahead of the fundraiser, a 50 year-old man, who asked not to be identified, said the thought of where he would be without the charity "terrifies" told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) how he fell on hard times and turned to the Hope Centre for ended up sofa-surfing with friends for a year, after his marriage broke down and he was not able to work for health the start of the year, he began staying at the Hope Centre's winter night shelter. "I've never had to ask for help but I had no other options; there was nowhere else for me to go," he said."Being here has kept me off the street - I've got a warm place, I've got a bed, but the biggest thing is you have got a support team here."This place wouldn't be here if it weren't for people going the extra mile."If you're willing to accept the help, they'll do whatever they can in their power to help you." Adam Brown, Conservative leader of West Northamptonshire Council (WNC), will be taking part in the event this year. He told the LDRS : "It's an absolutely fantastic charity. It's not just about giving people a meal or making them comfortable on the streets, but also providing complete turnarounds in people's lives."I'm conscious of the fact that despite going out and being very cold for the night it will still be nowhere near the reality."But I think it's good to grasp those opportunities when they come along and get even a small insight." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
