Hugely successful fundraiser wants more people to get involved

Scotland’s longest running sleepout is calling on Scots to help raise vital cash for homeless people.

Bethany’s Big Sleep Out, which will be held outside Edinburgh’s City Chambers in March, has raised over £400,000 pounds in the past 17 years.

All money raised from this year’s event will go towards the charity’s winter work with the homeless, including its care shelter. This provides a hot meal and a safe place to sleep for those with nowhere to go during the coldest months of the year.

Since 2002, sleep out participants have been involved in 47 Sleep Outs across nine locations in Scotland to raise money for Bethany’s life-saving work.

Events team lead at Bethany, Mairead Macleod, said: “With this year marking Bethany’s 50th Sleep Out, we’re very excited to see lots of supporters already signing up to take part, but we still need more people to brave the cold and join us! The night is a fantastic opportunity to sleep out and speak out against homelessness as it puts the daily struggles faced by homeless people very much into perspective. The Bethany Big Sleep Out is as much about raising awareness of the crisis of homelessness as it is about raising money to support Bethany’s work.”

This year, fundraisers can choose to sleep out in Edinburgh, Glasgow or St Andrews taking the charity to 50 official Sleep Out events. While temperatures may be low, team spirit is sure to be high at the Sleep Out this year, with hot soup, drinks and snacks available to participants throughout the cold night.

Alasdair Bennett, chief executive at Bethany Christian Trust, said: “The Big Bethany Sleep Out is our biggest event of the year and raises vital funds for our cause. It’s a fantastic opportunity to do something amazing for those who need a little bit of kindness and support.

"Whether you get your friends and family together or choose to go it alone, join us in a nationwide sleep out to end homelessness, one person at a time.”