SLEEP OUT RAISES £20,000

Over 80 brave fundraisers swapped their beds for sleeping bags last night to raise money for youth homelessness charity, Centrepoint, and Sunderland AFC’s registered charity, Foundation of Light. Reality TV stars, Nathan Henry and Abbie Holborn from Geordie Shore joined the fundraisers from the local community and business who all together raised over £20,000. Jess Sullivan, Centrepoint’s Regional Fundraising Officer, said: “It was fantastic to have the support of so many sleepers who braved a bitterly cold night at the Stadium of Light for our fifth Sleep Out event here.” “To have over 80 people taking part, who together raised £20,000 for our work in the North East, was amazing. While it would be impossible for us to replicate the reality of spending a night on the streets with nowhere else to go – participants certainly felt the cold and experienced the discomfort that some homeless young people have had to endure." “The money that has been raised will help support young people in the North East as they tackle the physical and mental health problems caused by homelessness and gain the skills and confidence to find work or return to education.” Before bedding down for the night fundraisers got a better understanding of the way in which both charities help local young people through workshops and activities, with Sunderland AFC’s Alim Ozturk and Robbin Ruiter both on hand to help.

As an annual fundraising event Sleep Out is great fun but it also raises a lot of money for vital work done within the region to help young people in need.  Thank you and well done to all who took part and we hope to see you coming back again next year Jemma Dowson, Foundation of Light Event Manager

Proceeds raised from the event, which was sponsored by Grand Central Rail, will help Centrepoint and Foundation of Light to support local young people in turning their lives around by gaining essential life skills, tackling physical and mental health issues and helping them to move into education or employment. Images courtesy of Kevin Brady.