Town are providing a venue for YMCA Trinity Group’s Sleep Easy event, which raises awareness of rough sleeping and provides funds to support young homeless people in Ipswich.

Participants will spend the night of Friday 8th March challenging themselves to sleep rough at Portman Road, raising money to help change the lives of vulnerable young people. All money raised will go to support the YMCA’s accommodation services in the town.

Starting at 7pm, the night will involve activities which replicate what it’s like to sleep on the streets. Participants will be provided with hot refreshments and materials to make a shelter and will experience what it’s like to sleep rough.

Jonathan Martin, YMCA Trinity Group’s chief executive, said: “Most people might be surprised to realise that most homeless people don’t in fact live on the street.

"Almost 70 per cent live in temporary accommodation, and that’s where YMCA provides vital support.

""“Our Sleep Easy event is all about raising awareness of the plight of homelessness among young people — they are often the most affected by this situation, often moving from place to place and staying on a friend’s sofa.

“Our aim is to help young people realise their full potential and we’re calling on our local community to sign up to help us support young people today and into the future.”

""Town’s general manager football operations Lee O’Neill added: “Homelessness is such a big issue in our town — and it’s not just a problem that is faced in the winter, as we may often suspect.

“We’re inviting all of our local community to take part in this major fundraising event, from which we hope to raise over £10,000 for YMCA Trinity Group, all with the aim of combating youth homelessness in Ipswich.”

The charity has housed and supported more than 650 people in its supported accommodation across the region since 2017/18.""To sign up for Sleep Easy, click here.

Adult tickets cost £10 and children under-16 go free, while family tickets (two adults and two children) cost £17.50. YMCA Trinity Group also welcomes individual fundraising in addition to the entry fee.

Photo: TWTD

Steve_M added 14:32 - Jan 29 Good. This is the sort of public community statement that we haven't seen enough of in recent years. If a football club is to matter then it should look to make a difference in it's community - that's a benefit, and something to be proud of the club for, irrespective of what happens on the pitch.
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Skip73 added 15:26 - Jan 29 I don't see why we should raise money for Tottenham Hotspur. Surely we have enough problems of our own.
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blueboy1981 added 15:06 - Jan 30 A great gesture all round - shameful that this Country has so many homeless people, many through no fault of their own. Worst part of it all is - prospects are only looking in the direction of it becoming worse in the forceable future. Great gesture - BUT shameful, bloody shameful, that the problem is as serious as it is.
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