Registration is now open for the annual event on November 10 in which people will bed down outside the Biomes to raise funds and awareness for St Petrocs and the Amber Foundation.
The South West-based charities are seeing rapidly rising referrals, in particular among younger people facing more complex issues especially with their mental health.
A record-breaking sum of nearly £17,000 was raised at last year’s Sleep Out at Eden when 75 people took part in near-zero conditions. The event has been held annually for the last eight years.
Participants are invited to ‘sleep rough’ underneath the canopy of the Link Building between Eden’s Biomes, using only cardboard boxes and their own sleeping bags for warmth and comfort.
This year’s attendees can expect entertainment throughout the evening and the opportunity to make their own hot dinner in cookery workshops. Breakfast and unlimited teas and coffees will also be available.
The Amber Foundation runs four supported housing centres for young people (aged 16-30) affected by homelessness, unemployment and mental ill health. Their South West centre, Ashley Court near Crediton in Devon, provides a temporary but safe and supportive home for young people from across the region.
All the young people who come to Amber receive fully tailored support and follow a development programme to help them move on to a job, a place in education or training and most importantly a safe, secure home of their own. https://amberweb.org/
St Petrocs are working to end homelessness in Cornwall because every person has a right to a safe and secure home. St Petrocs is a charity providing a range of services with the aim of ending homelessness for good. These include advice, support and medical services at resource centres and around the county with an outreach team, supported accommodation and a skills, training and employment programme. www.stpetrocs.org.uk
Dan James, Eden’s Development Director, said: “It’s a real honour to once again be holding a Sleep Out event at the Eden Project and shining a light on the incredible work the Amber Foundation and St Petrocs do to support those in need.
“The Sleep Out is always a powerful and emotive event and we hope to see many new and returning faces registering to take part this year on November 10.”
Rebecca Fry, Amber’s Fundraising Manager, said: “We are delighted to be working with the Eden Project and St Petrocs on Sleep Out again this year to raise vital funds and awareness of homelessness at a time of year when things only get tougher for those unlucky enough to be sleeping rough or living in substandard accommodation.
“At Amber we are seeing rapidly rising referrals and young people facing more complex issues especially with their mental health. The money raised at Sleep Out will be spent on housing and front-line support for these young people through the coming winter giving them the best possible chance of moving on to better, brighter futures.”
Henry Meacock, Chief Executive of St Petrocs, said: “The Eden Project has a long history of supporting people experiencing homelessness. At the heart of their charitable mission is the connection between people and nature. This concept of social sustainability is hugely important to us at St Petrocs and underpins our own ambition of ending homelessness in Cornwall.
“We are extremely grateful to the team at Eden for using their amazing venue and profile to raise awareness and vital funds through the annual Sleep Out. All funds raised will go directly to our front line services which focus on preventing homelessness, but where this is not possible, making the experience of homelessness short and supporting people to find their route out of homelessness for good.”
