Sleep under stars with your friends in Norwich
 Churches and youth groups across Norfolk are being challenged to spend a night out with their friends, sleeping under the stars on Saturday January 28, to raise awareness of youth homelessness and to raise vital funds for homeless people across the county.
Groups from churches and their associated youth people’s groups are being invited to join the YMCA Norfolk Sleep Easy event which will take place in the grounds of St Peter Mancroft Church, opposite the Forum on Millennium Plain in Norwich city centre.
As well as experiencing some of the challenges of sleeping rough…. what it is like to sleep outside for a night, participants will get the chance to join in fun and games, including Zumba, a treasure hunt, building a cardboard shelter and taking part in a candle-lit service inside the church.
Event organiser Susie Knights said: “this is a great opportunity to challenge yourself, enjoy a new experience, build new friendships and most importantly make a difference in the lives of vulnerable young people. To take part you will need to register, pay £5 to cover refreshments, breakfast and other admin costs. We hope you will also want to raise some sponsorship to go towards a very good cause and will supply everything you need to do this.”
 YMCA Norfolk patron, the Bishop of Norwich Graham James, said: "The YMCA's work in Norwich and Norfolk gives dignity and respect to many people in danger of isolation and sleeping rough on our streets. This campaign highlights the importance of that work. Our city is more compassionate because the YMCA is at work here."
Last year more than 50 YMCA clients, staff and supporters braved the cold and donned their thermals to raise awareness and funds for YMCA Norfolk. The sleep-out takes place during Poverty and Homelessness Action Week.
YMCA Norfolk chief executive, Tim Sweeting, said: “In these tough economic times, homelessness is a very real danger for many more people and it is all too easy for previously securely housed people to end up without a home. We want to raise awareness of this and what we are doing to combat it.“All the funds raised will go towards the building of our new accommodation centre in central Norwich so that 40 people on any one night can have a home and help to get back on their feet.”
If you would like to take part, please contact Susie Knights on 07967 741103 or susieknights@ymca-norfolk.org.uk or visit the website: www.ymca-norfolk.org.uk
You can donate at www.justgiving.com/YMCANSleepEasy2012
Click on the links below to download some of our resources;
Here are the photos from Sleep Easy 2011
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