YMCA Derbyshire is calling on individuals, businesses, and community groups across the city and county to come together to spend a night sleeping out, so others don’t have to.
Sleep Easy will take place at the County Ground, home of Derbyshire County Cricket Club, on Friday 7 March 2025. Tickets cost £10 for adults in full-time employment and £5 for young people aged 17 and under.
Each year the event brings together over 100 people who challenge themselves to sleep out for one night to raise money for those at risk of homelessness and social isolation.
Last year’s event raised just over £35,000, which was used to provide a wide range of youth and community services, enabling those they support to move along their positive pathways. Thanks to this incredible support, the charity was able to make a real impact last year.
- 325 individuals at risk of homelessness were given a safe place to live in the charity’s housing
- 884 hours of therapeutic counselling was delivered
- 95 residents were supported to gain a qualification
- 36 residents who engaged in employment programmes gained employment
- 10,310 hot meals were served to those in need, and over 1,000 food parcels were provided
- 653 individual support sessions were delivered
This year’s event will raise vital funds, which will help to continue and expand services. This includes the new Padley@YMCA Derbyshire Community Hub, which opened in December. The hub will help individuals and families experiencing poverty, isolation and who may be at risk of homelessness.
The new facility offers a community kitchen, a café, a pantry and launderette, along with activity and learning spaces. All designed to help people access basic needs support, boost their physical and mental wellbeing, build resilience and develop essential skills for life.
Gillian Sewell, CEO of YMCA Derbyshire, said: “We are extremely grateful to every individual, family and business that gets behind our Sleep Easy events, either through participating or sponsoring others.
“With the national housing crisis, increased living costs, and heightened demand for essential services the needs in our community have intensified. Funds raised at events like this are directly helping us to achieve such positive outcomes for the people we serve.”
“We are hoping to beat last year’s Sleep Easy fundraising total, but we need your help. We urge individuals, families and businesses to come together and spend one night sleeping out, so others don’t have to. One night really can make a lifetime of difference to those who need it most.”
