Big Sleep event to raise awareness of sleeping rough

On Thursday 7 March regional charity Young Devon is hosting its Big Sleep Out event in Exeter’s Princesshay from 8pm – 8am to raise awareness of the issues of homelessness for young people in Devon.

Young Devon is asking local young people take to their sleeping bags to experience sleeping rough for a night. The Big Sleep Out aims to raise awareness about the hundreds of young people that sleep rough in the local community every single night. The charity is urging young people to take part in the event to raise vital funds which will support hundreds of young people that require emergency, temporary or permanent accommodation.

Throughout 2012 over 10,000 people in the UK were accepted as homeless because their parents would not or could not house them, and more than a third of those were aged 16-24.

Jane Hooper, Young Devon Projects Coordinator, says: “Young Devon assist young people to find accommodation when they are at risk of being, or are indeed already homeless. Fundraising events such as Young Devon’s Big Sleep Out are crucial in providing funds so that the charity can continue its essential and life changing work.”

Wayne Pearce, Princesshay Centre Director, says: “We are pleased to host The Big Sleep Out event in Princesshay – the event will provide a safe environment to sleep experience sleeping outside for a night but also a realistic account of the issues of homelessness that young people face on a regular basis in the city centre and across the region.”

To register to take part in the Big Sleep Out event or to find out more about Young Devon, visit: www.youngdevon.org