May 2009

Press Release

Sleep out total exceeds £30k

Alabaré Christian Care Centres wants to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported their Sleep Out events, which raised more than £30,000.

On Friday 27th February, 126 men and women camped down and spent the night in the Cloisters at Salisbury Cathedral.  Amongst those who spent the night were the Bishop of Ramsbury Stephen Conway and Arch Deacons Andrew Jeans and John Wraw.  There were also groups of students from Wyvern College and St Edmunds School.

A smaller scale event was also held at St Thomas’ Church where a dedicated few curled up in the porch for the night. 

The sponsored Sleep Outs at Salisbury Cathedral and St Tomas’ were part of a series of Sleep Outs held across the area by Alabaré.  Other events took place in Tisbury’s Hinton Hall, St George’s Catholic Church in Warminster, St Nicholas in Porton and Pip n Jay’s Church in Bristol.

Overall the Sleep Outs raised a total in excess of £30,000, which will mostly go towards Alabaré’s Wiltshire Drop In Centres in Salisbury, Devizes and Trowbridge.  The Drop In Centres offer a warm and welcoming safe daytime shelter for vulnerable adults who are homeless, facing homelessness or living in unsuitable accommodation. They provide hot meals and drinks, showers, laundry facilities and a clothing exchange service. They also offer support and advice on housing and employment.

The money raised at the Bristol event will be used for the work of Alabaré in Bristol

Alabaré’s Community Fundraiser Tony Richmond said “I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who supported our Sleep Outs and gave up their time and money to help raise awareness of the problems faced by rough sleepers.”

If you missed out on Sleeping Out for Alabaré this year then don’t worry, there’ll be another big Sleep Out held in February 2010. 

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For more information or to arrange an interview call Lara Higgins on 01722 344484