Big Sleep out to take place at football stadium this winter
published on 4 Oct 2023
Big Sleep Out to take place to raise awareness and vital funds to tackle homelessness across Fylde Coast
The Salvation Army and AFC Fylde Community Foundation are working in partnership to raise awareness of homelessness and vital funds for support work to continue across Fylde Coast.
The first ‘Coasters Sleep Out’ will take place at Mill Farm Sports Village, Wesham, Preston, on Friday, November 17, in the North Stand at the home of AFC Fylde where participants will spend the night sleeping on the concourse.
The event has been organised to raise awareness and highlight the issues faced by homeless people locally whilst also raising essential funds for The Salvation Army’s homelessness work across the Fylde Coast and the football club’s Community Foundation. AFC Fylde supporters, community organisations and local businesses will get involved by taking to the floors on cardboard and bed down in sleeping bags in a display of solidarity and support to people experiencing homelessness.
Captain John Clifton, church leader for The Salvation Army in Blackpool which runs a day centre for rough sleepers across the Fylde Coast, The Bridge Project, said: “We’re thankful to AFC Fylde for opening its stadium doors to raise awareness of such an important issue as homelessness which affects so many across the Fylde Coast.
“Most of us will have never been homeless or slept outside and wondered how we will keep warm through the bitter temperatures as the hours pass. But by spending one night without luxuries and pushing ourselves out of our own comfort zones, we can provide a small insight into the big reality that many face daily, and the conditions they have to endure.
“The money raised from this event will go towards enabling The Salvation Army to continue the work we do daily, helping the most vulnerable members of our community. Experiencing homelessness is lonely and isolating but all of us coming together as one in the fight against homelessness reinforces the message that there is support out there, and with that support the cycle of homelessness can be broken.”
The North Stand will be open from 7pm on Friday 17th November until 7am on Saturday 18th November and people participating are advised to wear warm and appropriate clothing for the night and are to provide their own warm weather clothing and sleeping bag. After the event, participants will be provided with a breakfast sandwich and hot beverage courtesy of AFC Fylde Community Foundation.
Michael Whittle, Assistant Director of AFC Fylde Community Foundation, said: “Whilst it is good that we are able to put an event on like this, it is really sad that the number of people in Fylde being classed as homeless is rising, so we want to work with our local partners to try and have some impact and show our support for such a key issue in our society.
“We hope that we can get as many people as possible to come along and raise funds at the same time, spending one night outside to get a feel of what it is like to spend each night outside in the cold.
Sign up for the event is now open and to get involved and book a place please contact Michael.Whittle@afcfylde.co.uk.
The Salvation Army provide dedicated support for homeless people across the Fylde Coast, which includes an outreach for rough sleepers, The Bridge Project. The provision operates four days a week, Monday to Friday, excluding Wednesdays, from 9:00am – 11:00am and then again from 12:00pm – 2:00pm, 52 weeks of the year. Clients have access to showering and laundry facilities, clothing support, telephones and signposting to other organisations.
