Homelessness campaigners have asked Buckinghamshire residents to sleep outside for a night this winter to support homeless people.
Wycombe Homeless Connection (WHC) are urging people to ‘sleep out’ in November to raise urgent funds for the charity.
Brave sleepers can either take part at the home of Wycombe Wanderers, Adams Park, or ‘sleep out’ at home instead on November 26.
WHC’s fundraising and marketing manager Heather Stanley said: “WHC needs you to swap your bed for a sleeping bag and spend the night in a makeshift shelter to help to make sure there will be support this winter for people who are homeless in our community.”
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“We are thrilled to be back with our friends at Adams Park and hope as many people as possible will join us on this very special night.
“People can also take part in their own ‘at home’ sleepout instead, so now there are more ways than ever to help bring homelessness to an end in our community.
“The rise in rough sleeping in Wycombe and across south Bucks has been causing concern.
“We are currently helping more people sleeping rough than we ever have, and our homelessness prevention helpline is ringing off the hook.”
Although the government announced additional interventions to tackle rough sleeping, homelessness continues to affect hundreds of people and thousands more are at risk of losing their home because of the cost of living crisis, the charity said.
Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth said: “It’s fantastic that we’re able to host the Big Sleepout at Adams Park again and I’d like to encourage as many Wycombe fans as possible to take part and raise funds for a really important cause which makes a massive difference to the lives of people right here in our town.
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“I know some supporters will have been to Adams Park hundreds of times for matches and events but sleeping out in the stands is a completely different experience and one that will be really worthwhile.
"It might be cold, the floor might be hard, but it’s a sacrifice well worth making for one night to help Wycombe Homeless Connection in their goals of giving support to those less fortunate than ourselves.”
The Big Sleepout has secured a major sponsorship from locally- based and founded bed company Dreams.
Dreams CEO Jonathan Hirst said: “Everyone deserves a warm bed and safe place to sleep.
“Wycombe Homeless Connection is a brilliant local charity making that a reality for more people in our community.
“That’s why we’re proud to be supporting the Big Sleepout again – and we hope as many people as possible will join us and take part.”
Find out more about the Big Sleepout 2022, register to take part or make a donation at www.wyhoc.org.uk/bigsleepout2022
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