Salford to take part in world sleep out day

On December 7, staff, students and members of the Salford community will join an expected 50,000 people around the globe to raise money to help combat homelessness and the refugee crisis. It will be the only event in Salford or Manchester to mark the day and is being organised by Salford students.

It is all part of the World’s Big Sleepout, organised by Scottish charity Social Bite. Sleep outs will be taking pace in cities such as Chicago, Edinburgh, Dublin, Los Angeles, Madrid and New Delhi, plus dozens more around the world.

Those taking part will have access to the Maxwell Hall building for toilets, and hot drinks, and the grassed area in front of the Museum is where the sleep out will take place. There will be full security on the night.

Organiser Martyn Willcock of the University of Salford Business School said: “Having done sleepouts in the past I thought they are great ways of getting the message out about homelessness. Manchester has a particular problem, as has been well documented and hopefully we can do this small thing to highlight the problem and raise a bit of money.

“Many thanks to our student teams who have arranged the day, they have done a great job, and hopefully we will get a lot of people involved and raising money for this great cause.”

The global campaign aims to see 50,000 people sleep out on the night, with a target of raising $50,000,000 for homelessness and refugee causes worldwide. Partners for the campaign include the Malala Fund, UNICEF USA and the Institute of Global Homelessness, who will be able to support a target of 1,000,000 homeless and displaced people with the funds raised. Local charities will also benefit where the events take place.

The Narrowgate project, which provides emergency night shelter as well as day time services for homeless people will benefit from the Salford sleepout.

Among the rough sleepers will be Salford City Mayor, Cllr Paul Dennett, along with other council staff. He said: “It’s fabulous to see University of Salford students organising an event such as this to support some of the most vulnerable members of our society. I have a passionate interest in housing and the reduction of homelessness in the city and it is one of the council’s top priorities.

“Together with other members of the staff from the City Council will be sleeping out on the night as part this great initiative.”

Anyone who wants to register interest in the event should e-mail SalfordBigSleepOut@salford.ac.uk

There will be small £10 fee to cover costs.