YMCA Lincolnshire’s popular Sleep Easy fundraiser returns to the Lincoln Cathedral after being cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The charitable event invites residents to spend the night of Friday, March 25 sleeping outside under the cathedral to raise money for the YMCA Nomad Centre.
This year the proceeds will be used to help keep people off the streets for good by supporting the development of an inhouse mental health support service.
Michael Callander from YMCA Lincolnshire said that mental health supports are necessary to help people imagine life after living on the streets.
“When people have been sleeping rough for a long time, it becomes the norm for them. It’s a debilitating experience. Especially for people who’ve been in that situation for a long time.
“It can have quite a significant impact on people’s sense of self-worth and hope that they can get out of that situation.”
Craig Marsh, three-time Sleep Easy participant and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lincoln International Business School, is looking forward to taking part again this year.
“It isn’t a comfortable experience sleeping under cardboard in March, but it is an enjoyable experience, and it is a fulfilling one.”
He encourages others to get involved, despite being “terrified” the first time he signed-up.
“It’s important to experience just for one night, in a very small way, the type of hardships homeless people experience.”
To learn more about how you can get involved, or to donate, visit the YMCA Lincolnshire’s Eventbrite and Just Giving pages.
