Teesside University students will abandon their beds for the night to raise money for local charities.
Christmas sees homelessness making the headlines but for rough sleepers the struggle is all year round.
Rough sleepers are just the visible tip of the iceberg when it comes to people registering and understanding the homelessness crisis.
Alarmingly it has been recorded that an estimated 320,000 people are homeless in the UK, according to the latest research by Shelter.
This figure equates to one in every 201 Brits and is an increase of four per cent from last year.
In 2018 40 Teesside University students took to the streets with the aim to raise money for some of the most vulnerable people in society.
Following the success of last year’s sleep out, where a massive £7,456.22 was raised, the University is trying to achieve this again this year.
The amount raised last year was divided between charities including;
- The CEO sleep-out
- Salvation Army
- My Sisters Place
- The Moses Project
- Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Welfare
Bianca Robinson, CEO of CEO Sleepout said: “The overall philosophy is to encourage students to care and show compassion for the less fortunate.”
“We are delighted to be working with students at Teesside University again for the Big Student Sleepout.”
The organiser of the Teesside University Sleepout, Suzanne Witherington, Principle Lecturer at Teesside University, said: ” I would encourage all of our students to think about how they can support this fantastic cause and be socially and ethically engaged.”
When is the sleep out?
Tonight – Friday December 6 2019 at 8pm
Where is the sleep out?
Olympia Building, Teesside University
People taking part in this event are advised to wear all of their winter clothing as temperatures are freezing, sleeping bags are permitted however, tents cannot be brought onto site.
There will be free refreshments throughout the night for the volunteers taking part including cold and hot drinks as well as pizza for anyone who gets peckish.
Suzanne said: “The First Big Student Sleepout was a very successful and thought-provoking event, and we are delighted to be supporting it again this year.”
Students are encouraged to sign up to take part through the volun-tees website.
If rough sleeping is not for you, you can donate via the just giving page https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/bigstudentsleepout
