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First Bognor Big Sleep Out is Huge Success

First Bognor Big Sleep Out is Huge Success

On Saturday 11th May, we brought our annual fundraising event The Big Sleep Out to Bognor Regis for the very first time, to mark our 30th anniversary! This was in addition to our annual Big Sleep Out which has been taking place at Chichester Cathedral each October for over 20 years.

We held the event at Bognor Regis Town Football Club and 30 participants were sponsored to sleep out in cardboard shelters they had made earlier on in the day.

Laura Bulbeck, Stonepillow PR & Events Manager, said: “Our first Big Sleep Out in Bognor Regis was a great success and we have raised nearly £7,000 so far - which is fantastic! We would like to thank all the participants for their fundraising efforts, which will make a huge difference to the lives of homeless and vulnerable people and ensure that we can continue to support them. We are so grateful to Kiwi Recruitment for sponsoring the Big Sleep Out and making it all possible.”

Before participants settled in to their shelters for the night, one of Stonepillow’s clients bravely shared their experience of what it is like to be homeless. The Big Sleep Out doesn’t aim to replicate homelessness but it does give people a small insight into some of the harsh realities of rough sleeping. One participant said, ‘the temperature went down to 2°C overnight and it really hit home about how hard it would be to do this night after night’.

Stonepillow provides support 365 days a year and have 96 clients in their accommodation on any given evening. Tackling homelessness requires more than meeting the day-to-day needs of rough sleepers, people need long term support to help them leave the streets permanently and find independent accommodation they can call home.

Stonepillow have multiple projects in Bognor Regis, including a day centre, a 24-hour hostel, a drug and alcohol recovery service, supported accommodation properties and a charity shop Restore on the High Street. Laura explains, “We were thrilled to bring this event to Bognor Regis, as we are committed to working together with individuals, groups and organisations in the community to end rough sleeping”.

We would like to say huge thank you to all the local businesses that supported the event: Kiwi Recruitment, Bognor Regis Town Football Club, Royals Fish & Chips, Pinks Vintage Ice Cream Van, South Downs Water, Beaver Tool Hire, The C-Tones, Zoe Fuller, Super Signs and Chi Africa. If your business would like to be involved, please contact Stonepillow on 01243 537934 or email admin@stonepillow.org.uk.

This year’s Chichester event will take place on Saturday 19th October 2019 and look out for Bognor Regis 2020 dates which will be announced on our website very soon!