BWFC Sleepout Raises £27,817
Over £27,000 to date has been raised following the inaugural BWFC Sleepout, hosted at the University of Bolton Stadium last week.
Over 90 supporters, local businesses and business leaders including Wanderers CEO, Neil Hart, and Bolton Wanderers in the Community (BWitC) CEO, Phil Mason, braved minus five degree conditions on Friday 10th March to raise funds for both Bolton Wanderers in the Community and Urban Outreach.
As well as raising money, the aim of the sleepout was to increase awareness about the reality of homelessness in the UK.
Speaking on the event, Phil Mason said: “I’d like to thank everyone that took part in the event and all those who have donated. The response from the local community and businesses was fantastic, and this enabled the event to be the success it was.
“Whilst the night was a true challenge, it provided us all with a glimpse of what the reality of homelessness is. I found it a very powerful event. It is something that I look forward to doing again next season and would I encourage more people to come and join us for the experience.”
Dave Bagley, Urban Outreach CEO said: “Is this the kind of sacrifice required to spend just one night in someone else’s shoes to be able to feel their pain? Absolutely not and yet one night trying to sleep on the terraces at Bolton Wanderers left me thanking God it was just one night. At 4am the temperature dropped to minus 5 and sleep was impossible. And yet for so many in our town and across this nation it’s every night. This one night has left its mark in so many ways.
“I was humbled to spend the night with 90 others and to be the guest of our great Bolton Wanderers. Thank you to all who donated and sent messages of encouragement and most of all to the staff at Bolton Wanderers in the Community. Let this one night shake us to a renewed vision that no one sleeps without a roof and we look to make homes available to all who need them.”
The figure raised currently stands at £27,817.52, with the campaign still accepting donations HERE.
BWitC would like to thank the JD Foundation for sponsoring the event, Carrs Pasties, Greenhalgh’s and Greggs for providing food, Bolton FM for providing music on the evening and everyone that took part in the night.