Manchester stars set to brave the cold to support homeless people in our city

Jamie Lomas and Jamie Moore recently visited the Booth Centre with donations of boxing kit and outdoor clothing

The Manchester Sleepout is back for its 6th year running in 2016! On Friday 4th November hundreds of people will sleep out to highlight some of the hardships that homeless people face every single night.

This year some famous Manchester faces will move out of their comfort zones and take on the challenge of sleeping out for the night to help raise funds for the work of the Booth Centre, a day centre in the city offering support to the growing number of homeless people on our streets. ‘Team Vital’ will include well known stars from the world of sport and TV including boxer Jamie Moore, Coronation Street star Katie McGlynn, and past and present Hollyoaks actors Jamie Lomas, Anthony Quinlan and Hollie Jay Bowes. Manchester based house DJ, EMA, will also be joining the group sleeping out, all hoping to raise over £1,000 to help those who have experienced homelessness.

The annual event, taking place at Manchester Cathedral in November, does not claim to mimic what it must be like to be sleeping rough, but attempts instead to raise awareness of some of the difficulties facing people on the streets.

The Manchester Sleepout will raise funds to help the Booth Centre to continue to bring about positive change in the lives of people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and help them plan for and realise a better future. 

You can donate to the team’s fundraising page at:  www.justgiving.com/TeamVitalSleepout

Hollyoaks star Jamie Lomas, after a recent visit to the Booth Centre, said:

“I am honoured to be taking part in The Manchester Sleepout as part of ‘Team Vital’, to raise awareness and funding for the work of the Booth Centre. Nobody should have to be homeless and living on the streets in this day and age. Everybody has their own story as to where they are in life and we should all do what we can to help one another and especially those who may have fallen on hard times.”

Boxer Jamie Moore, having seen the work of the Booth Centre first hand, said:

"The Booth Centre is doing great things for the homeless community and I'd love to try and help them as much as I possibly can. They need all the help they can in order to be in the position where they can provide support and practical advice to people who are homeless or at risk. I'm looking forward to doing The Manchester Sleepout in Nov (on my birthday!) to help raise awareness of the struggles homeless people go through on a daily basis.”

Amy Hinks, Development Manager at the Booth Centre, said:

“We’re delighted to welcome Team Vital to The Manchester Sleepout this year! It’s great to know that they want to do something practical to help people facing crisis close to home. The Sleepout gives us a small glimpse of what people face night after night, hopefully meaning we can be more compassionate to those in our community who need our help. Thank you to everyone taking part this year, we really appreciate your support!”

Those interested in joining the Sleepout for the Booth Centre can register online here or by contacting the centre on 0161 835 2499.

Donate: www.boothcentre.org.uk/donate

Facebook: www.facebook.com/boothcentre

Twitter: www.twitter.com/BoothCentre

Instagram: @McrSleepout

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