Sponsored sleep-out to support Leicester’s homeless

University of Leicester staff and students will participate in ‘The Big Sleep’ on Thursday 21 March 2019.

Staff and student volunteers will be wrapping up and bracing themselves for a night out in the elements in order to raise awareness of homelessness and the reality of ‘sleeping rough’.

‘The Big Sleep’ will be taking place at the University's Centenary Square on Thursday 21 March, organised on behalf of local charity The Bridge: Homelessness to Hope.

From 8.00pm on Thursday 21 March to 8.00am on Friday 22 March, volunteers will spend the night under the stars for a glimpse into what street homelessness might be like – with only cardboard, a sleeping bag, flasks and the clothes on their backs for warmth. All funds raised through the event’s JustGiving sponsorship page will be donated to The Bridge.

Although ‘The Big Sleep’ event cannot entirely replicate the hardships suffered by those who are homeless, the team hope that it will provide some insight into the daily struggles and discomfort faced by the homeless, and raise awareness of those conditions.

Dave Hall, University Registrar and Chief Operating Officer, said: “It is easy to lose sight of the fact that this is a daily reality for an increasing number of homeless people on our City’s streets. We are proud to continue our support for The Bridge: Homelessness to Hope – the work that they do in supporting the most vulnerable in society is truly remarkable.”

David Fawcett, Executive Operations Manager at The Bridge: Homelessness to Hope, said: “We’re delighted that people are joining us on The Big Sleep challenge to help to raise much-needed funds, and also to get a view of how challenging sleeping outside can be for the city's homeless community – particularly in inclement weather conditions. We thank them all and wish them all the best for sharing this night with us.”

• To sponsor the participants on The Big Sleep, visit the JustGiving sponsorship page