Massive simultaneous sleep out events to end homelessness to be held across Scotland this December.

Social Bite today (26 June) launches Sleep in the Park 2018, the world’s biggest simultaneous multi-city sleep out, which will take place on the night of December 8 in Scotland’s four largest cities.

The inaugural event on December 9 2017 saw 8,000 people come together to sleep under the stars on the coldest night of the year in Edinburgh’s West Princes Street Gardens – in what became the world’s largest ever sleep out. Building on the momentum of last year’s event, Sleep in the Park 2018 returns to the Capital (Princes St Gardens) but will also see simultaneous events in Aberdeen (Duthie Park), Dundee (Slessor Gardens) and Glasgow (Kelvingrove Bandstand, tbc).

Managed by Unique Events, Sleep in the Park 2018 participants will be joined by an impressive line-up of artists before bedding down for a cold night in each city. Returning for the second year, Amy MacDonald will be joined on the bill by fellow Scot KT Tunstall – who will each be performing in all four cities on the night. An aircraft has been donated by prominent Glasgow based businessman Andrew Devlin to provide the flight.

Comedian Fred MacAulay is announced as the host for the Edinburgh event and acclaimed author Irvine Welsh will perform this years’ bedtime story. Full line up for each city including acts, special guests and hosts will be announced in the coming months.

Josh Littlejohn MBE, co-founder of Social Bite, said: “Last year, 8,000 people took part in the world’s largest sleep out in Edinburgh, and raised and incredible £4million in the process. Everyone who gave up their beds that night caused a sea change in Scotland’s fight against homelessness and have funded a raft of major projects, including a major ‘Housing First’ initiative which is expected to take 800 rough sleepers off the streets by 2020.

“For Sleep in the Park 2018 we’re doing something that has never been done before - a simultaneous multi-city sleep out. We’re asking for 12,000 people in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee to keep the momentum going and raise £6million.

“We were completely blown away by the thousands of people who joined this movement and supported Sleep in the Park last year. We want to build on this across the whole of Scotland. By organising these events locally, we will invest the funds so that homeless people in those cities are housed and given the support they need to get back on their feet.

“The money raised from Sleep in the Park 2018 will be put towards rapidly rehousing rough sleepers and providing them with support. We’ll make sure that the most vulnerable members of society – for example people coming from the care system or prison – don’t end up homeless. The funds will also go towards a number of other programs that will be a catalyst for long-term structural change.

“By coming together, we can accelerate the pace of change in Scotland and create the political mandate to truly end homelessness here. I fundamentally believe that the statistics of homelessness in Scotland are not insurmountable. By collaborating, and treating homelessness as a political priority, I believe that Scotland can be a country where everyone has a place to call home.”

Last year saw 8,000 people come together in Edinburgh’s city centre on the coldest night of the year, with some of Scotland’s most respected sports people, religious leaders and political figures all enduring the freezing temperatures to raise a total of £4million for the cause.

Housing Minister, Kevin Stewart, said: “Having taken part in the event last December in Princes St Gardens, it was amazing to see people come together to help the most vulnerable people in Scotland.

“Public support for events like the Sleep Out demonstrates the appetite for change and the Scottish Government absolutely shares this commitment to ending homelessness. It's great to see the events being expanded throughout Scotland and I'd encourage everyone to get involved.”

Alongside Sleep in the Park, Social Bite is preparing to welcome its first residents to the Social Bite Village in the coming weeks. Located in Granton, on the outskirts of Edinburgh, the Social Bite Village consists of 11 purpose-built two bedroom homes and a community hub, and will provide a stable and supported communal way of living for 20 people at a time for around 12-18 months.

Members of the public can join Sleep in the Park by committing to raise £100. Businesses can sponsor the event by signing up a team of five with a minimum fundraising commitment for £3,000.