Press Release
Use your extra day in 2008 to help the homeless
People living in and around Wiltshire, Hampshire and Bristol are being asked to use their extra day this Leap Year to help the homeless.
Alabaré will be holding a series of sponsored Sleep Outs and Sleep Ins on Friday 29th February and they want as many people as possible to get involved.
Sleep Outs/Ins are being held at the following venues:
Salisbury: St Marks Church (indoors)
St Thomas’ Church (outdoors)
Raising money for the Salisbury Drop In Centre
Wilton: St Mary and St Nicholas Church (indoors)
Raising money for the Salisbury Drop In Centre
Andover: King Arthur’s Hall (indoors)
Raising money for the Test Valley Foyer
Romsey: Romsey Abbey (indoors)
Raising money for the Test Valley Foyer for young people
Edington: Edington Priory Church (indoors)
Raising money for the Devizes and Trowbridge Drop In Centres
Bristol: Clifton Cathedral (outdoors)
Raising money for our Supported Housing projects in Bristol
(For specific project details please see Notes below)
The Sleep Outs/Ins are a follow up to Poverty and Homelessness Action Week, which ran from Homelessness Sunday (27th January) to Poverty Action Sunday (3rd February). The week is all about working towards ending homelessness and poverty in our nation and encouraging as many communities as possible across the UK to hold events to raise awareness of the issues in their community.
The Sleep Outs/Ins are a great way to make people think about the challenges faced by rough sleepers, at the same time as raising awareness of the work of Alabaré.
The money raised through each event will go directly to the projects in that area.
Last year Alabaré held just one Sleep Out at Salisbury Cathedral, which raised in excess of £22,000. This year it’s hoped to be even bigger and better with a series of events taking place on the same night.
If you would like to take part in on of the Sleep Ins or Outs or if you would like to arrange your own Sleep Out/In call Yvonne Way or Tony Richmond on 08450 78 68 08.
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For more information or to arrange an interview call Lara Higgins on 01722 344484
Notes
Alabaré Christian Care Centres is a regional charity, providing a range of services including supported housing, floating support services, drop-in centres, information, advice and training services and a registered care home. The charity works with the homeless, ex-offenders, young people, individuals with a learning difficulty, vulnerable women and people with drug and alcohol problems, aiming to assist them with realising their potential and becoming valued members of society. www.alabare.co.uk
The Wiltshire Drop In Centres – Devizes, Salisbury and Trowbridge - 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 Barford Countryside Unit, a converted old farmyard building in Dairy Lane, is a training facility for clients with a variety of support needs. It has an IT suite, a woodwork workshop, kitchen facilities, a pottery barn, a textile workshop and a horticultural project. Clients can undertake skills training, personal development and vocational courses which are accredited by the National Proficiency Test Council.
The Test Valley Foyer is made up of three facilities: The Junction, Sarum House and Oasis House. http://www.hants.gov.uk/testvalleyfoyer
The Junction is an Internet café and training facility for 13 to 25 year olds. It provides a safe space where they can access the Internet, information, advice, guidance and training on a diverse range of issues including housing, education, and health. The Junction also has a number of meeting rooms and training facilities that can be hired out by the public when the young people aren’t using them.
Sarum House is a hostel for young people aged 16-25 who are homeless or facing homelessness. It provides low to intensive housing related support for 18 young people who have a variety of complex needs, including those leaving custodial sentences.
Oasis House is a supported housing project for young people aged 16 to 25 who are homeless, facing homelessness, or in need of structured support. It provides support to a maximum of five people who want to work towards independent living.
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