Guildford Sleep-out Helps Raise £42,000 For Local YMCA

Published on: 27 Mar, 2018
Updated on: 27 Mar, 2018

A total of £42,000 has been raised for the YMCA DownsLink Group by people ‘sleeping rough’ for one night at a number of locations.

Sleep Easy 2018 Guildford participants in the morning after the sleep-out at the Castle Grounds.

On Friday, March 16, 34 volunteers found places to bed down in the grounds of Guildford Castle as part of the Sleep Easy sleep-out.

Elsewhere in Guildford, Horsham and Hove a further 140 volunteers took part. They were all raising awareness of youth homelessness as well as vital funds for YMCA DownsLink Group (YMCA DLG) working across West Surrey and Sussex.

More and more young people are at risk of, or actually experiencing homelessness and the YMCA works tirelessly to enable them to find safe accommodation and direction in life.

Four Sleep Easy events took place on the same night, with the University of Surrey Students’ Union also staging their own event on campus involving 20 people.

Helena Mason, vice-president community for the Students’ Union, slept out on the university’s piazza. and said: “Being woken up in the early hours by freezing winds as the ‘beast from the east’ made its return was a solemn reminder that, while we packed our boxes up and made our way home, some people don’t have that option.

“Doing a fundraiser like this brings that sharply into focus, we had the luxury of building elaborate cardboard castles but many of those on the streets have to make do with next to no protection from the elements, which is why they need help from amazing organisations such as the YMCA.”

Paul Napthine, head of operations at YMCA Guildford said: “Homelessness among young people is increasing. In addition to those we see on the streets are the hidden homeless who are sofa surfing not knowing each morning where they will be the next night.

“We are grateful to all those who slept ‘rough’ for just one night to raise awareness of youth homelessness. As well as raising awareness they have also raised money to support the vulnerable young people that are housed and helped in other ways by YMCA DownsLink Group.

Caroline Stearman, a YMCA DLG board member, joined the Sleep Easy in the grounds of Guildford Castle. She said: “The whole experience was a significant eye opener to the challenge of homelessness.

“It was thought-provoking from start to finish, particularly as I was packing my stuff on Saturday morning and thinking that I could go home for a hot shower and cosy warm day at home. It hit me that those with no home have no choice to do that. I am delighted that I was able to take part.”

YMCA DLG is grateful to the Castle Green Bowling Club for use of its clubhouse for the event, as well as Urban Spaceman storage company for the supply of cardboard boxes, which were most welcome.

Money raised from the Guildford Sleep Easy will be used to benefit young people in the local area. For those who have faced homelessness the journey towards independent living can be difficult to negotiate, but YMCA workers walk with them and offer the support they need, along with YMCA projects that help them to reconnect with learning and training.

More donations are welcome at www.bit.ly/SleepEasyGive The hope is to raise more than £50,000 from this one night under the stars.