Autumn Sleepover

On the 29th September, we hosted 48 amazing Booth Centre Supporters, right here at the Centre for our Autumn Sleepover event. Individuals, organisations, and businesses traded their comfy beds for our floors, showing immense compassion to raise crucial funds and awareness for those affected by homelessness in our community.

The evening kicked off with a fantastic welcome from our CEO Paul and Head of Fundraising Jenni, thanking each of our challengers for their time and commitment, but also reminding us why we are here:

Today in Manchester, more than 7,500 are without a home. Here at the Centre we've witnessed a 35% surge in the demand for our services in the past year alone. This surge, especially as temperatures drop and the need for support continues to rise, emphasizes the crucial role our community plays in providing life-changing support to those affected by homelessness. We simply could not deliver our vital service without the generosity and commitment of our supporters.

It was really wonderful to welcome so many of our supporters to the Centre- some for the first time- to see the Centre in person, and hear first-hand how their support helps people in our community. Throughout the evening staff, visitors, volunteers and supporters new and old engaged in engaged in heartfelt discussions before finally winding down for lights out. 

The night was bitingly cold but luckily without rain, and as sun rose on Saturday morning our challengers woke up to a hot drink and sandwich, before heading home to thaw out! While spending the night in an unfamiliar and open environment offered only a glimpse into the struggles endured by those without a home, it left our participants with plenty to think about, and their resilience in overcoming this challenge was amazing.

We are so proud of and grateful to everyone who took part in the event, and hope that despite the lack of sleep, after the event they felt invigorated, enthused and inspired. The event has so far raised an impressive £20,000 and these funds will directly aid individuals in their journey out of homelessness, guiding them toward stable accommodation, employment, and training. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated, from all of us at the Booth Centre.

Check out the full gallery of images from the night below. If you spot yourself and would like a higher quality copy of the image please contact Isla at [email protected]. Fundraising pages are still open, so if you wish to make a last-minute donation, head to our JustGiving Page to support our fundraisers and our cause!

Feeling inspired? Sign up for our next Sleepover event here! Will we see you at the next one?