Members of the first team coaching staff to ‘sleepout’ at Oakwell on Thursday.
Members of Barnsley Football Club’s first team coaching staff will sleep on the concourse at Oakwell on Thursday night, to raise awareness and funds for homeless charity Centrepoint.
Coaches Adam Murray, Dale Tonge and Kevin Pilkington will be joined by Physio’s Craig Sedgwick and Vikki Stevens as they prepare to spend a night under the lights, battling to elements in order to raise vital funds and awareness for a cause they value so highly.
The first team coaches will also be joined by a number of U23s players, along with U23s Head Coach Martin Devaney.
The Sleepout event, now in its third year, is expecting to surpass last year’s efforts where over 100 local residents spent the night in Oakwell Stadium and collectively raised over £35,000.
The money raised at the event will go directly towards the local services supporting homeless young people in Barnsley; ensuring young people in each town and city can have safe and stable accommodation, the skills needed to live independently, support with their physical and mental health alongside access to training and education.
Centrepoint, the UK’s leading youth homelessness charity, supports more than 60 homeless young people every day in Barnsley, and over 200 across Yorkshire.
Chloe Sykes, Centrepoint’s Senior Fundraising Officer, said: “While Sleepout doesn’t aim to replicate the reality of homelessness, taking part in it can help highlight just some of the difficulties faced by young people who face homelessness. Sleeping on the floor, dealing with the cold and the noise and then facing the next day with very little sleep.
“The event only lasts one night the money raised will have a huge ongoing 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. This year marks Centrepoint’s 50th year in service so we want to make this year our biggest Sleepout yet!”
If you would like to donate to this fantastic cause, you can do so by clicking the link below.
