I am taking part in the Sleep Easy campaign on 3rd March sleeping rough to support those who have to.
What is the YMCA Sleep Easy?
Sleep Easy is a YMCA England fundraising initiative that raises money to help change the lives of young people. The aim of Sleep Easy is simple: spend a night challenging you to sleep rough, raising money to help change the lives of vulnerable young people. All the money you raise goes directly to local YMCA accommodation services to help homeless young people.
What is homelessness?
Over 3,500 people sleep rough in the UK every night. Hidden homelessness is a major problem in the UK with over 80,000 young people face homelessness every year, three times official figures.
Homelessness is defined by the Government as ‘having no permanent home to go to’. The reality is you don’t have to be on the streets to be considered homeless; many homeless young people ‘sofa surf’ relying on the goodwill of others for a bed for the night and in some cases many years.
Imagine how you would cope if you became homeless through no fault of your own. Maybe you were fleeing an arranged marriage? Or escaping from physical, mental or sexual abuse? Or your parents have found a new partner who simply doesn’t want you around? Where would you go? How isolated would you feel?
Homeless people’s lives can get out of control very quickly; they can find themselves moving from place to place sometimes daily, often sharing their living space with strangers. With limited access to support and financial help serious issues can often occur, but it doesn’t have to be like this.
YMCAs are asking supporters to sleep out so others don’t have to this year by taking part in special Sleep Easy events all over England and Wales.
A staple part of our fundraising since 2010, Sleep Easy has seen more than 6,000 people sleep rough to raise £1m for local YMCA services that help young people rebuild their lives.
One night can make a lifetime of difference.
