People from across the Midlands are set to learn what it would be like to sleep rough on a cold winter’s night at The Big Sleep Out.
The event, which takes place on December 3, will help to raise money for homeless charity St Basils.
Every year tonnes of cardboard is delivered by Jaffabox to turn the St Basils car park in Digbeth into a one-night-only cardboard city.
The fundraising event offers volunteers the experience of what it could physically be like to ‘rough it’ for a night.
One ‘Sleeper’ David Smith, who works for Cadbury, has taken part in the last nine St Basils Big Sleep Outs, raising more than £9,000 in sponsorship towards the funds needed to prevent youth homelessness in the region.
He said “After having done the first sleep out, and speaking to some of the young folk helped by St Basils I was determined to become a regular at the event and thus do my part, all be it small, in helping young people get the help they require in times of difficulty.
“I would urge anyone who has given a thought to doing the sleep out to stop thinking and come along, it’s a great social event, a time to meet new friends and experience for one night exactly what St Basils is helping to prevent.”
Mark Amyes, director of Jaffabox, said: “The Big Sleep Out captures the imagination of everyone who takes part including my staff. As a local businessman I’m only too pleased to help out by donating the cardboard which is then recycled afterwards. It is just one of the ways we support our local community.”
To register for this years Big SleepOut go to www.stbasils.org.uk/sleepout or phone 0121 772 9614.
