More than £20,000 raised for Northampton Hope Centre after successful virtual ‘Big Sleep Out In’

A Northampton homelessness charity has raised more than £20,000 by hosting a virtual fundraiser which was well supported by the community.

The Hope Centre, based in Campbell Street, holds an annual ‘Big Sleep Out’ fundraiser where participants sleep outside to raise funds and awareness for rough sleepers.

Each year the event where hundreds of people often bed down for the night in outside spaces around town, raises huge amounts of funds for the charity to enable the team to continue their vital work.

This year, the event, now in its thirteenth year, had to adapt due to the pandemic and was renamed the ‘Big Sleep Out In’, whereby fundraisers bedded down somewhere less comfortable than their own mattress, but remained in their own homes.

The event was still well supported and more than 110 children and adults took part, raising £22,500 between them.

Community and events fundraiser for The Hope Centre, Tanya Haji-Miller, said: “We have been astounded by the amount our supporters have raised and the numbers who took part.

“It was a different sort of SleepOut but just as uncomfortable for people to take part in.

“As well as raising funds for us, at a time when it’s needed more than ever, we hope our participants took away an understanding that homelessness is not just about the people who you might see on the streets; it’s also those in insecure housing who worry every day about where they are going to sleep at night.”

Next year’s Big SleepOut date and location are currently being finalised but the team at the Hope Centre have said they want the event to be bigger and better than ever.

Tanya added: “We want as many people as possible to join us and we have a few surprise new additions for next year’s event.

“Keep an eye on our social media channels for the last news as it happens.”

The charity’s next fundraiser is the Ride for Hope One Day Cycling challenge where participants will be able to cycle either five, 20 or 40 miles starting at Salcey Forest on Sunday May 16.

For information about how to sign up visit the charity’s website.

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