A-list celebrities and thousands of people will be out in force for Sleep in the Park
Thousands of people in Edinburgh will be joined by A-list celebrities for the world’s biggest ever charity sleepout.
Social Bite announced it is to host Sleep in the Park on Saturday 9 December at West Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh.
The charity hopes that 9,000 people will sleep in the park to raise funds to fight homelessness – with a £4 million fundraising target set for the event.
Those who take part will be joined by Liam Gallagher, Deacon Blue, Amy Macdonald, Frightened Rabbit and other special guests, who will be busking for the crowd.
Comedian Rob Brydon is the host for the night, and John Cleese will be reading a bedtime story.
A host of celebrities, sports personalities and politicians will sleep over in the gardens – and they will be joined by Sir Bob Geldof.
Sir Bob said: “I first met Josh and Alice from Social Bite five years ago and I am delighted to support them and their effort to eradicate homelessness in Scotland by sleeping out in the cold at the event. The event has the potential to be a game changer in tackling the issue and I am right behind it, even if a little nervous to brave a cold Scottish winter’s night.”
“You never expect to ask Sir Bob Geldof to sleep in a park. But we didn’t expect to do any of the events that have happened over the past five years,” said Social Bite co-founder Josh Littlejohn.
“We just follow each footstep with the next. Every event we put on is aimed at making as big an impact as we can.”
Social Bite started as a sandwich shop to benefit the homeless on Rose Street in Edinburgh in August 2012 and has now grown to five shops in Scotland, two large staff canteens in Edinburgh, a central production kitchen in Livingston and become one of the country’s leading independent corporate catering businesses.
Sleep in the Park represents the biggest fundraising event yet for Social Bite, and Littlejohn said the charity is determined to build on the momentum it has gained in recent years.
“It is really important,” said Littlejohn. “We have had some amazing events over the past five years, with A-list celebrities coming over. That gives you media attention and the attention of others, and you want to capitalise on that so you can have as big an impact as possible. We’d like this to become the Scottish Live Aid.”
Alongside Sleep in the Park, Social Bite has commissioned a study from Heriot Watt University entitled Eradicating Core Homelessness in Scotland to provide a fully-researched framework for the investment of the money raised from the event. The report will be published in September and it is expected that the funds will be spent on housing solutions, a nationwide employment program, addiction facilities, and outreach teams.
“It is crucial that we work with other charities,” said Littlejohn.
“We have structured the study so that rather than be led by academics, we have invited lots of different charities and setup focus groups in different communities.
“Almost all the smaller charities that work at ground level have contributed. That is going to help us shape our strategy and the political engagement for working with the government.”
Work is underway on the new Social Bite village which will see 10 purpose-built two-bedroom homes installed on a 1.5 acre site in Granton, providing a safe living environment for up to 20 people from homeless backgrounds. The first residents from Edinburgh’s homeless community are expected to move in before Christmas this year and Social Bite has been working with Cyrenians on the project.
