Stadium Big Sleep Outs In Lancashire Support Homeless
Deepdale and Ewood Park saw hundreds of people sleep rough to raise tens of thousands of pounds to support charities that support the homeless.
Both Blackburn Rovers Community Trust and Preston North End Community and Education Trust hosted hundreds of people on the same evening with participants sleeping on the side of the pitches and in the stands.
Preston’s Big Sleep Out returned for the first time since 2019 to raise funds for the city’s Foxton Centre’s Day Centre, that supports vulnerable young people and adults.
The money raised will go to frontline services at the Day Centre which offers a place after people have found themselves on the streets to have safe and warm space to be fed and receive support.
Blackburn’s event gathered donations and awareness for the Trust and Nightsafe, a local charity providing support and emergency help to homeless people in Blackburn with Darwen.
Martin Winters, Head of Operations at Blackburn Rovers Community Trust said: “This year’s Big Sleep Out, under the stars at Ewood Park, was a fantastic example of the community coming together to raise awareness and support around homelessness.
“The money raised will be split between Nightsafe and Blackburn Rovers Community Trust, all to help people from crisis to providing pathways into education and work.”
Nicola Roscoe, Operations Manager at Nightsafe, added: “The Big Sleep is just one night of experiencing homelessness and what it is like to be out on the streets, which is sadly an unfortunate everyday occurrence for some people.
“The Sleep Out raises much-needed awareness around homelessness and much-needed funds to keep services operating to support our young people who shouldn’t have to face any night on the streets.”
As a result of both events, tens of thousands of pounds have already been raised for the causes.
