The event will see YMCA Cambridgeshire & Peterborough join forces with 14 other local YMCAs across the country to raise awareness of youth homelessness.
Supporters will sleep out for one night in the grounds of St Catharine’s College Sports Ground in Cambridge to raise awareness of the hundreds of young people sleeping rough every year in England and raise funds to help YMCA Cambridgeshire & Peterborough continue to support residents and young people in their services.
YMCA Cambridgeshire & Peterborough has hosted Sleep Easy nights since 2016 and has raised a total of £6,500 in that time. Money brought in has helped YMCA Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, which works with over 450 young people each year, provide temporary accommodation and additional support throughout the region.
The local event this year will run from St Catharine’s College Sports Ground on Friday 3rd March and the night’s activities will include entertainment and networking opportunities for the local community.
Mayor Jeremy Benstead is inviting local people and businesses to join him during the Sleep Easy Week in March:
“Homelessness is a long standing local and national issue and in Cambridge has become increasingly visible; community agencies such as the YMCA do excellent work to help and support those who need it. I’m proud to support Sleep Easy Week and hope that it raises people’s awareness of the issues that surround homelessness so that we are able to help get as many people as possible off the streets and into a bright future.”
Jonathan Martin, YMCA Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Chief Executive, said: “We’re thrilled that Mayor Jeremy Benstead is supporting the first ever Sleep Easy event in Cambridge and we can’t thank him enough for his support.
“We hope that the local community feels inspired and signs up to take part in our Sleep Easy event – everyone is welcome to join us. With your help we will be able to support young people through our services today and into the future.”
Other YMCAs signed up to take part in the national Sleep Easy Week include YMCA Exeter, YMCA Doncaster, YMCA Coventry and Warwickshire, YMCA Derbyshire, YMCA Bedfordshire, YMCA Lincolnshire, YMCA Norfolk, YMCA Thames Gateway and Southend YMCA.
To find out more about taking part in Sleep Easy, please visit www.theymca.org.uk/sleep-easy-2017. If you are interested in making a donation or volunteering for YMCA Cambridgeshire & Peterborough please contact our fundraising team: [email protected] or 01733 373188
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