Julian House’s popular Big Bath Sleep-Out had a twist this year. For the first time ever, participants could choose whether they wanted to sleep out at Alice Park or at Home on Friday 4th March to support the charity
Despite the temperatures dropping close to 0°C, the event saw over 100 people and families ditching their beds for one night to help raise much-needed funds and awareness for Julian House and the adults and children the charity supports. Equipped with just sleeping bags, cardboard and plastic sheeting, adults and children braved the cold to help those forced to do it every night.
Organiser Jessica Gay said: “We are so pleased people and young children with their families were willing to forego their normal creature comforts and warm beds for the night. Obviously sleeping out for one night does not come close to the realities of homelessness. It does however give people the chance to empathise with those who are forced to sleep rough every night, as well as start a conversation about homelessness, and those that took part certainly did just that.
For those that slept in their own gardens, we hosted a livestream of events on the night, and we were delighted to see lots of supporters sharing pictures of themselves sleeping out on social media.
So far the sponsorship raised is running at £30,000 which brilliant. We know the situation at home and abroad is incredibly tough at the moment, and we’re grateful to everyone who came out to support us.
In the uncertain economic times ahead, these funds will be vital in helping us provide our life-saving services. I encourage you to watch back the livestream here to listen to the stories of some of the individuals we have helped. Without events like these and the help of our supporters, we really could not provide our essential life-saving services.”
Thank you again to everyone who took part and raised sponsorship, to those who donated, and to everyone who made the livestream possible.
Special thanks to our sponsors, Bath based financial firm, Unividual, Enlightened who helped with our livestream and everyone who contributed to it, Over the Moon Tents who supplied our admin and emergency tents, Alice Park Trust and Alice Park café, Outliers Wellbeing and all of our amazing volunteers who helped on the night.
If you were not able to attend, but would like to support the event, please do so here.
Listen here to Jess discuss the Sleep-Out on Radio Bath.
