261 people sleep rough!!
SAFE@LAST is celebrating after the third BIG Sleepout event was a huge success.
The event took place on Friday 23rd October when 261 people braved the cold and wet to sleep rough at Parkgate Shopping, Rotherham to raise funds and awareness to support the 4000 children and young people in South Yorkshire that run away from home each year.
Supporters taking part ‘slept rough’ on the car park with minimal comforts through typical October temperatures and rain in the early hours to get just a taste of what the experience might be for a young runaway who has no choice but to sleep rough.
SAFE@LAST patron, South Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Med Hughes took part in the event and said of the experience "I was lucky. I had warm clothes, and family with me. A runaway child may have neither. They have constant fear, loneliness and boredom instead. And it's easy to stay out for a night when the morning brings a warm house, dry clothes, and a meal. It's harder when daybreak brings more rain and nothing else"
Also braving the cold and wet was Joyce Thacker Strategic Director, Rotherham Children and Young People's Services who said “I arrived late to the BIG sleep out as I had been to a dinner beforehand so actually felt quite alone as all the others sleeping out had settled down for the night into groups. I had to think where best to sleep as I was on my own, where best to keep myself safe - to be near others but not intrude. I thought this was how a young person might have felt, scared, vulnerable and very lonely. I had no hesitation in sleeping out for one night to raise awareness of runaways – I had somewhere warm to go back to, with family, and people who care about me. If I was twelve years old – sleeping rough must be one of the scariest things ever.”
We had a fantastic turnout at this years BIG Sleepout and exceeded the number of people that took part last year. Our thanks goes to all those that have supported the event including all the brave people that slept rough and the organisations involved in making this event such a huge success like Parkgate Shopping, Rotherham. The challenge now is for all those who took part to collect their sponsorship money so that we can continue to provide essential services for vulnerable children for whom sleeping rough isn’t a choice but a necessity.
Its not too late to support those that took part – click on the links opposite to make a donation or see more photos from the event. For more information call 01909 566977 or email events@safeatlast.org.uk.
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