YMCA Lincolnshire & The Nomad Trust raises over £16,500 for homeless people

YMCA Lincolnshire & The Nomad Trust raises over £16,500 for homeless people as part of the national YMCA Sleep Easy Week

Local people have so far raised over £16,500 for YMCA Lincolnshire at a local fundraising event last Friday. The event saw 85 people spend a night sleeping rough in the grounds of Lincoln Cathedral, sheltering in cardboard boxes from the wind, rain and bitter cold.

The event, ran annually by the YMCA, attracted more than double the participants of last year’s SleepEasyLincoln16, beating the fundraising target of £10,000 by over 50%, with generous support and donations still coming in following the event.

YMCA Lincolnshire have ran SleepEasy events for the past seven years, however this is the first event to be part of national YMCA Sleep Easy Week, that saw 15 YMCAs come together over seven days promote to their work with young people and the homeless.

Money raised from the event will help YMCA Lincolnshire and The Nomad Trust increase the provision of accommodation and support services for the most vulnerable people in our society.

The Nomad Trust, part of YMCA Lincolnshire, is looking to improve the support they provide through a new direct access and supported accommodation project – The Nomad Centre. Funds raised through Sleep Easy will go directly to supporting the new build.

Sleep Easy event organiser, Rachael Hewitt, said: “This was the first time we teamed up with other YMCAs for YMCA’s National Sleep Easy Week. We are amazed with the level of support we have received, from local businesses, organisations and individuals. We’re thrilled with the success and I’d like to thank everyone who took part and spent the night out with us.”

“There is still time to support the cause – you can donate to #SleepEasyLincoln17 by visiting: www.lincsymca.co.uk/sleepeasy - now, it’s not about supporting those who took part in Sleep Easy, it’s about supporting those who have no choice but to sleep rough on a daily basis.”

Mindy Arora who participated in the Sleep Easy event, raising over £1,500 in sponsorship, shared her thoughts;

“You can never truly understand how difficult it is being young and homeless, unless you experience even a fraction of what it is like sleeping out.”

It’s definitely made me realise the hardships these people face on a daily basis – the struggle for things most of us take for granted – warmth, shelter and food…”

A number of participants have already expressed their desire to Volunteer for The Nomad Trust, and take part in next year’s SleepEasy, explains YMCA Lincolnshire’s Fundraising Officer, Emma Hume.

“To see the local community coming together in support of those most in need is amazing… Whether you can afford to donate to the cause, or offer some time to volunteer, your support is greatly appreciated.”

“We would like to offer particular thanks to Spaldings Ltd, Stokes Tea and Coffee, East Coast Homeless Outreach, Running Imp, Nomad Retail, Lincoln Cathedral, Go Outdoors and RAF Waddington for supporting the event.”

You can help support the homeless by donating to the cause at: www.lincsymca.co.uk/sleepeasy