Local charity challenges Barnsley residents to spend the night sleeping in Oakwell Stadium.
Local businesses and residents are being asked to swap their bed for a sleeping bag for one night in November in an effort to raise funds and awareness for youth homelessness charity Centrepoint.
The Sleep Out event, now in its second year, is expecting to surpass last year’s efforts where over 100 local residents spent the night in Oakwell Stadium and collectively raised over £30,000.
Proceeds from this year’s event will fund sports programmes delivered by Centrepoint and Barnsley FC for homeless young people in the town.
Centrepoint supports more than 60 homeless young people every day in Barnsley, and over 200 across Yorkshire, providing accommodation and support to help young people to turn their lives around by gaining essential life skills, tackling physical and mental health issues and helping them to move into education or employment.
Chloe Sykes, Centrepoint’s Senior Fundraising Officer, said: “It would be impossible for us to replicate the formidable challenges of homelessness but we hope that those taking part in Sleep Out will broaden their understanding of the challenges involved such as sleeping on the floor, facing the cold and getting through the next day with very little sleep.
“While the event only offers a glimpse in to the struggles of being homeless, the money raised will have a huge impact on those who unfortunately find homelessness as their reality. It will help to support vulnerable young people to gain the skills and confidence they need to move on in to education, work and a home.”
The event, taking place on Thursday 8 November, is being sponsored by Global transportation and logistics provider, XPO Logistics, and ASOS’ charity arm, the ASOS Foundation, which has supported Centrepoint nationally since partnering with it to help launch the Centrepoint Helpline.
Ken Perritt, Account Director for XPO Logistics, said: “We’re committed to supporting the communities where we live and work, and helping those less fortunate.
“We’re proud to sponsor Centrepoint’s initiative and have colleagues taking part in this event; it’s a great way to be ambassadors of our values.”
Louise McCabe, Director of Corporate Responsibility at ASOS, said: “We’re pleased to be continuing our sponsorship of the Centrepoint Sleep Out in Barnsley after the huge success of last year.
“We’re looking forward to taking part ourselves and showing our support to Centrepoint which does such an important job in helping vulnerable young people in Barnsley and the surrounding area."