Sleep Out to Kit Out

The Rotary Club of Cannock and Stafford, in partnership with South Staffordshire College are delighted to announce a sponsored ‘Sleep Out’ event. The aim is to raise awareness of homelessness and raise much needed funds to help local people to furnish a home of their own.

Participants will brave the elements for a challenging 12-hour stint in the ‘sleep out’ event taking place on Friday 22nd April at Cannock College which is located opposite the bus station.

Chris Young, Chair of the Organising Group said: “This is a new event for Cannock Rotary Club, building on a successful event run by The Rotary Club of Stafford in 2019. We are very grateful to South Staffordshire College for their tremendous support, without which this event would not have been possible.

Our aim is to support the Stafford and Cannock League of Hospital Friends, who provide supported housing for people with enduring mental illness. One of the barriers their clients have to successfully moving out of supported housing and into a home of their own, is being able to afford both a deposit and purchasing furniture and electrical items. We hope that by setting up a fund we can remove a barrier that will help someone move into a home of their own. Mental illness affects people from all walks of life, and we felt that holding a sponsored ‘Sleep Out’ would be a good way of highlighting the issues faced by homeless people”.

Martin Thornley, Chief Executive of The Stafford and Cannock League of Hospital Friends said “We are so grateful for the support from Rotary, which will enable us to extend our support to the local community of Stafford and Cannock ”

The money raised from the ‘Sleep Out to Kit Out’ event will help local supported housing organisations by providing a fund from which their clients can apply for a grant to purchase items to enable them to move on to a home of their own.

Any donation is very welcome and will help towards funding the following:-

• £20 a kettle or toaster
• £50 a microwave
• £100 a single bed
• £250 a fridge freezer or a cooker professionally installation
• £500 a single bed and mattress plus an installed washer/dryer

Claire Boliver, Chief Executive Principal of South Staffordshire College said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Rotary Clubs and the League of Hospital Friends by becoming the host venue for the ‘Sleep Out to Kit Out’ event. We hope that the event will bring together people from across the two Boroughs to highlight the issue of homelessness and raise money to help people become independent.”

‘Sleep Out’ participants will be welcomed to Cannock College from 6pm on Friday 22nd April. All participants will be provided with a cardboard mat on arrival, however they can bring along more cardboard and plastic sheeting to build a shelter for the night, until the 12-hour event draws to a close at 6am.

Limited places are available, so early registration is encouraged. A £10 registration fee will be payable to secure a bed, however this will be added to donations.

Participants are encouraged to set a personal target to raise a minimum of £100 in sponsorship and encouraged to set up a fundraising page with Just Giving, however whatever amount you can raise will be very much appreciated.

If you would like to register please visit cannockrotary.co.uk for more information, and to download your registration and sponsorship forms.

More information can also be found on Facebook by searching “Sleep Out to Kit out 2022″, by emailing Sleepout2022@gmail.com, or by contacting Helen Perren on 07949079174.