THERE is one week to go until the Sanctuary Trust’s annual Sleep Out – with organisers hoping for a last-minute “surge” in participants.
The event, which sees Islanders abandon the comfort of their homes for a night in Pier Road car park, raises vital funds to help the trust provide accommodation and support to men with a range of issues, including homelessness and addiction.
It will take place on Friday 17 November.
More than 90 people took part in last year’s Sleep Out, which raised a record-breaking £65,000 for the charity.
Debbie Prosser, a trustee of Sanctuary Trust, said the event had not yet seen a similar response this year, citing the weather and the recent Storm Ciarán among the possible reasons why. She also noted that the charity sector as a whole was struggling with fundraising and described last year’s Sleep Out as “a hard act to follow”.
Tim Ringsdore, chair of the Sanctuary Trust, said: “It’s our big fundraiser.
“We did have a big last-minute surge [in sign-ups] last year so we are encouraging both individuals and businesses to take part.”
He continued: “We have a terrific charity support network in the Island but we know there are people who struggle to keep a roof over their heads – we still have a waiting list for Sanctuary House. It’s a constant struggle and, to be frank, we need the money to [be able to] continue supporting these men – we have a great success rate of bringing them back into society.”
Mr Ringsdore is also nearing the end of his own rough-sleeping challenge – to spend a night outside a different parish hall each month.
Anyone who wishes to sign up for the Sleep Out can do so online at: sanctuarytrust.org.je/events/sleep-out-2023-registration/
