Spend a night under the stars for charity

Torbay's YMCA return with sleep-out event

People across Torbay are being challenged to endure a cold night under the stars to help raise money for young and vulnerable homeless people.

Staff at the YMCA South Devon’s newly launched Nightstop service, which provides emergency, temporary accommodation for young people, are hoping that dozens of people will bed down for the night on outdoor tennis courts to raise funds.

Named the Sleep Easy, YMCA's across England are asking residents to sleep in any outdoor area on March 11th. Most of the efforts locally are being concentrated on a sleep out in the Goodrington area. 

The hope is that business leaders and politicians will also rise to the challenge, forsaking the comfort of their own beds and homes for 12 hours to raise sponsorship money.

Nightstop launched in Torbay just before christmas and has already helped one young person by placing them in a safe, caring environment in the home of trained volunteers until their needs could be assessed.

Before Nightstop started, young homeless people (aged between 16 and 25 years) were being forced either into bed and breakfasts or found themselves sofa-surfing on friend’s couches instead, until a better solution could be found.  

Nightstop already runs in 30 towns and cities across the UK, but it is a first for Torbay, where young homelessness has become an urgent and increasingly severe problem. 

Maria Goodman, chief executive officer of YMCA South Devon said: “We are calling on our community to support young homeless people struggling right now, to show them that we care, that we are there for them, and to highlight the overwhelming difference this can make to people’s lives. 

“Whilst there is a serious message behind the night, it is also a lot of fun. There is a great atmosphere among those taking part and we also have the chance to raise significant funds for a very worthwhile cause.

Click here to find out more: https://ymca.e-activist.com/page/94456/data/1