People are being encouraged to take part in ‘The Big Sleep,’ which is taking place at Leicester’s two university’s next week, to raise funds for a homelessness charity.
The event, taking place at both De Montfort University and the University of Leicester, will start next Tuesday (March 28) at 8pm, and students and staff will sleep on campus until 8am on Wednesday, March 29.
Anyone taking part will be sent a fundraising pack and cash raised will go to The Bridge Homelessness to Hope. a well-being charity which helps with housing, mental health support, community support and therapeutic work with the city’s homeless.
Lawrence Robertson, Civic and Community Engagement Officer at DMU, said taking part was an opportunity for students and staff to give back to the community they live and work in.
“This is an opportunity for us all to raise money for a good cause but also offers an insight into what it is like to have to sleep out for a night,” he said.
“I am not saying we will know what it will be like to be homeless. If it rains we will be able to go inside and there will be cups of tea and biscuits available at midnight…but it is an experience and a reminder of the luxuries we have, such as food and shelter, that many people don’t.
“We want to encourage students and staff to be good citizens and take an active role in improving our community. As an institution we aim to be an empowering university and help create a fairer society. This is one of the many ways we want to get involved.”
At DMU, ‘The Big Sleep’ will take place outside the Food Village. Meanwhile, the University of Leicester’s effort will be centred in Centenary Square.
Anyone who enrols will be sent a fundraising pack via email which they can share with family and friends and help raise funds. People can also join as a team, such as a student society, sports team or staff group.
Fundraisers are asked to bring a sleeping bag for the night.
Representatives from The Bridge will join The Big Sleep to give a talk and run a Q&A to explain its work and the issues homeless people face on the streets of Leicester.
In order to get involved, visit: https://www.bridgeleicester.org/the-big-sleep-2023-registration-form
