As a charity, fundraising is vital to everything that we do here at Simon on the Streets. That’s why, when it comes to our events, we put a lot of thought into how they’ll work, who can get involved, and perhaps most importantly the messages we want people to remember.
Simon’s Big Sleep Out is our flagship event.
This year, we’ll be gathering as many people as we can (if you haven’t signed up yet you can do that here) to sleep outside Leeds Civic Hall for the night. There’ll be entertainment and hot drinks provided to boost morale, so it’s set to be a fantastic event.
But what are the messages behind Simon’s Big Sleep Out? What are we trying to achieve beyond much-needed sponsorship funds? Here we’re presenting the three key messages that are the foundation of what Simon’s Big Sleep Out stands for.
This is not a home
Sleeping on the streets is no way to live. Sofa surfing, or being constantly at risk of having the roof taken from above your head, is no way to live.
There are so many well-intended schemes and projects that simply don’t provide a real and sustainable solution to homelessness. Blankets made from crisp packets for example, or shipping containers turned into somewhere to sleep. That isn’t a home.
We often find the people we work with living in incredibly unsuitable conditions. Sleeping in tents, or wooded areas, using cardboard as a shelter. Those facing homelessness are especially vulnerable to extreme heat or cold. Injuries and illnesses are far from uncommon, and virtually impossible to recover from when you need to be constantly on the move.
Nobody should have to live like this.
Everyone deserves a safe and secure place to live, complete with the things that the rest of us take for granted. Running water, shelter from the elements being just two examples, in addition to basics like access to running water, a shower and shelter from the weather.
I am not invisible
When we talk about those who are facing homelessness, it’s easy to overlook the fact that everyone is an individual with their own unique story. They’re not a statistic – each person is somebody’s son, daughter, mother, father, sister, brother or friend.
Unsurprisingly, many of the people we work with simply want someone to talk to – someone who’ll listen to their struggles without judgement. When you live out on the streets, companionship is hard to come by. Even a simple “hello” goes a long way when you’re faced with such a lonely existence.
It’s why our work goes far beyond providing food and sourcing temporary shelter. Simon on the Streets is built on non-judgemental support, on seeing the human being behind the struggle and helping them to take back control of their life. It’s also why we never identify anyone to whom we provide support.
We listen, we chat and we see. Because those facing homelessness should not be invisible.
You can make a difference
We know that tackling such a big issue as homelessness can feel overwhelming, but there are things you can do as an individual to support our work.
Our team of outreach workers connect with vulnerable people in the local community, helping them to break the cycle of homelessness and work towards a happier and more stable future. It’s only with your support that we can continue to do this.
Here are just a few ways in which you can help:
- Individual donations – every penny counts. An one-off donation can go a long way towards funding our outreach work.
- Corporate sponsorship – as a corporate partner, you can help us to generate longer term, sustainable income whilst reaching your corporate social responsibility goals.
- Create your own fundraiser– what better way to get involved with our charity than through some fundraising fun?
- Sign up to our latest events – we’ve got some great events in the calendar for you to join in on – all in aid of our work to support those facing homelessness.
Now that you’ve learnt about the key messages behind Simon’s Big Sleep Out, we’d really welcome your support.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be spreading the key messages of our campaign whenever and wherever we can. You can stay up to date and in the loop by following across our social channels Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.
And if you haven’t signed up yet, there’s still time to Sleep Out with Simon!