Every penny raised will support local charities in the region, such as 1625 Independent People and Developing Health & Independence
LandAid’s first ever SleepOut in Bristol has raised over £35,000, the funds of which will go to local charities such as 1625 Independent People and Developing Health & Independence who provide vital services to young people in Bristol.
The first ever LandAid Bristol SleepOut saw 109 professionals from 33 property companies, including Paragon, Bray & Slaughter and Trident Building Consultancy to raise valuable funds to support young people experiencing homelessness in Bristol and the South West.
The LandAid Bristol SleepOut is supported by headline sponsors Hammerson and Knight Frank, and regional sponsor TFT.
Participants were joined by Danni and Osei, two young people who have experienced homelessness, and Dom Wood, Chief Executive of 1625 Independent People. He spoke to them about the local issues homelessness young people face, and the opportunities to learn life-skills and to find secure accommodation, due to the help provided by 1625 Independent People. When asked how the public could help young people Osei replied ‘Be kind, be compassionate.’
Thanks to LandAid’s generous sponsors Hammerson and Knight Frank, all funds raised last night will go to LandAid’s mission to end youth homelessness.
LandAid would like to say a huge thank you to all the events sponsors, including headline sponsors Hammerson and Knight Frank, regional sponsor TFT and Ashton Gate Stadium who very kindly lent the venue for the evening. The event also received 250 cardboard boxes from Crown Workspace.
Paul Morrish, LandAid Chief Executive, says: ‘A huge thank you to everyone who braved the cold and slept out last night. A fantastic amount has been raised by professionals across the property industry. All funds will go towards LandAid’s mission to end youth homelessness.
I’m sure the SleepOut was a sobering experience for all who took part. We are so proud to see many of you take on this challenge for young people of the South West. But for too many young people, sleeping out isn’t an evening for fundraising – it is their reality. Thank you to everyone who last night gave hundreds of young people the option of safe and affordable accommodation, and a steppingstone to independence.’
Mark Bourgeois, Managing Director UK & Ireland, Hammerson, said: ‘Hammerson is delighted to be sponsoring LandAid’s SleepOut Series in Birmingham, London and last night in Bristol. So far, LandAid has raised £35,000, a huge amount that will tackle youth homelessness in the UK. Hammerson is so proud to have been a part of bringing the property industry together to raise awareness, and we are looking forward to sponsoring the final SleepOut in London in two weeks’ time.’
Allistair Elliott, Senior Partner and Group Chairman, Knight Frank, said: ‘Knight Frank is proud to have sponsored last night’s LandAid SleepOut in Bristol, as well as last week’s SleepOut in Birmingham. This series will not only raise much needed funds, but highlight the challenges faced by young people experiencing homelessness. We are looking forward to the last SleepOut in the series in London.’
Alistair Allison, Managing Partner, TFT, said: ‘Taking part in the LandAid Sleep Out was an obvious necessity for me, and sponsoring it was even more necessary for us at TFT. The SleepOut is the pinnacle of LandAid’s calendar, because it forces us to not only support but understand and empathise with those at the heart of the cause. Once we’re all warmed up and comfortable back at home (or the office), we mustn’t let the experience fade in our memory – I hope it drives us all to spread the word and help drive LandAid forward in the rest of the year too. While we’re busy developing and shaping the built environment for our clients and their customers, we have a duty to use those same resources and skills to help put an end to widespread youth homelessness.
Thank you LandAid for being a constant reminder to us of that, and for driving us to do better. For every accommodation built, educational course enrolled, career path carved and so forth, we are one step closer to our united goal to end youth homelessness. If we can achieve this, who knows what it can achieve for homelessness at any age.’