By Lauren Farmer.
Lincolnshire YMCA and The Nomad Trust will be sleeping rough next month to help fund a new night shelter in Lincoln which is currently in its feasibility stage.
The event will be held on Friday, February 28 at Lincoln Cathedral and The Showroom on Tritton Road, from 7pm until 7am the following day.
The charities are hoping to improve on their total of £3000 which was raised in last year’s Sleep Easy event.
Malcolm Barham, Chief Executive at Lincolnshire YMCA hopes that the event will help raise awareness of homelessness in Lincoln. He said:
“Every night in Lincolnshire people sleep rough. Lincolnshire YMCA and The Nomad Trust are working hard to tackle rough sleeping and homelessness. Every penny raised will go towards the development of a new night shelter.”
The night will involve sleeping under the stars outside of either location with cardboard to sleep in, hot drinks throughout the duration and breakfast served in the morning to those who participate.
Barham said: “We are only sleeping rough for one night; can you imagine the mental anguish of not knowing you have somewhere safe and warm to stay each night?”
Registration is open now with a £10 fee for adults and £5 for under 18s. Anyone above the age of 12 can take part, but under 18s have to be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the night.
To register, go to www.lincsyma.co.uk and click on the sleep easy logo. For more information, contact Simon.Nicoll@theshowroom.org.uk.