YMCA Norfolk Sleep Easy highlights homeless
Around 55 YMCA Norfolk staff, supporters and clients slept out under the stars at events in Norwich and King's Lynn last night (January 29) to highlight the issue of homeless young people across the county. Keith Morris reports.
The main event, at St Peter Mancroft Church next to the Forum in Norwich, saw over 40 people (pictured right) brave freezing temperatures and sleep among the gravestones, while in King’s Lynn around 13 people staged a similar event.
Organiser, YMCA Norfolk communications and fundraising manager, Susie Knights, said: "It was an amazing night giving a glimpse into the challenges of homelessness and I find myself counting my many blessings as I know I could not easily face another night sleeping rough. It felt extremely cold mainly down to the firm breeze that definitely brought a wind chill factor.”
Schools & Community Manager, Nick Blanch, who arranged a range of activities and games to keep people’s minds off the cold, said: “I did it last year and want to do it again as it is a good challenge and it does raise awareness about an important issue. But you can never really replicate the despair of homeless people who know that they have nowhere to go the night after as well.”
Participant Aaron Curran, said: “I am a Norfolk Street Pastor and in that role I see a lot of homeless people, especially down at the soup kitchen in Norwich. I have taken part because I thought it would be a good idea to try to find out how it feels to be homeless for a night and to raise some money for the YMCA.”
YMCA resident,
Jay Giddings (pictured right), also took part in the Sleep Easy. Jay became homeless last year after being told to leave the family home. He sofa-surfed with mates for a while and then found himself homeless and out on the streets.
“I moved into the YMCA in Norwich because I did not have anywhere else to turn to, or anywhere else to stay and the YMCA was clearly going to be a really good option for me to get my feet back on the ground,” he said.
“Staying at the YMCA has made me want to turn over a new leaf and to start afresh with my life. It has enabled me to become more confident and to work towards being able to live independently on my own. It also meant I was able to begin doing some training, which has been very beneficial for me with regards to my future plans.
“I took part in the Sleep Easy because I want to be part of an experience which will be so beneficial to the YMCA’s future plans. I also wish to take part to raise awareness of the problems that I went through before I was able to move into the YMCA.
Rev Janet Wyer, associate priest at St Peter Mancroft and YMCA Norfolk chaplain, held a short candle-lit service for participants at 10pm inside the church.
YMCA Norfolk chief executive, Tim Sweeting, said: “We doubled the numbers of people taking part in Norwich over last year and I am really pleased that people who previously had nothing to do with the YMCA came along to support us.
“There is a greater awareness of the issues surrounding homelessness and a desire for people to get involved in something which is bigger than themselves. People want to give back to others and do something special that is challenging but fun and also raise some money for a great cause.”
Sleep Easy participants were sponsored to the tune of several thousand pounds to help support the work of YMCA Norfolk, which provides a warm bed to over 200 young people in supported accommodation across the county each night and specifically towards the new £4.4m flats for homeless young people, which are under construction on Bethel Street.
Nationally around 1000 people joined in similar Sleep Easy events at YMCAs across the country.
