Big Sleep out returns to Reading's Abbey ruins
Charity hopes to raise £40K
Reading’s homelessness prevention charity, Launchpad, has announced this year’s Big Sleep Out is back at the iconic and historic Reading Abbey Ruins after holding the event online for two years.
The event will take place on Saturday 8 October to mark World Homeless Day and aims to raise £40,000 to help fund the charity’s vital services which help local people avoid homelessness, particularly in these uncertain times.
The Big Sleep Out asks participants and their friends, family and colleagues to swap their comfortable bed for a sleeping bag outside for the night. While the event doesn’t aim to replicate homelessness, it does offers participants an insight into some of the things people experience when they’re rough sleeping – such as cold temperatures, an uncomfortable bed and limited sleep.
Vicki Lewis, Fundraising Manager at Launchpad, said
“We are delighted to be bringing the Big Sleep Out back to the incredible Reading Abbey Ruins. The site is a truly iconic landmark for the town and a special place for crowds of local people to sleep out, mark World Homeless Day and raise vital funds for the charity. We’re hoping for our biggest and best Big Sleep Out yet!
“Our services at Launchpad are a lifeline to over 1,100 local people every year and over the next few months, we know there are going to many more people who find themselves on the brink of homelessness and in desperate need of our support. We would love people to join #TeamLaunchpad for the Big Sleep Out and help us raise £40,000 to fund this vital work and ensure people avoid homelessness. By sleeping out, we can ensure others in Reading don’t have to.”
Now in its 17th year, Big Sleep Out is Launchpad’s flagship fundraising event and has raised over £320,000 to date. In 2019, the event was held in the grounds of the Grade I listed ruins of Reading Abbey for the first time and in 2020 and 2021, the Big Sleep Out went virtual and became the Big Sleep out at home because of the pandemic.
Registration for the Big Sleep Out is £20 per person and Launchpad are asking each participant to fundraise a minimum of £250. The charity has created a Big Sleep Out guide to help participants fundraise and spread the word about their challenge, and they’ll also receive lots of support and resources from Launchpad’s fundraising team. For more information and to book your ticket, visit launchpadreading.org.uk/bigsleepout