Published Friday 1 December 2017 at 11:30
Blackburn with Darwen Council is backing the big town centre sleep-out taking place in Blackburn tonight (Friday, December 1) to highlight the plight of homeless young people.
December 2017 is Nightsafe’s 27th Anniversary and to celebrate this they are holding a mass sleep-out to raise awareness of their work whilst helping to raise much needed funds for Nightsafe’s projects.
Nightsafe is a small local charity based in Blackburn with Darwen that supports homeless young people aged 16-24 years old.
Cllr Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, said:
It’s down to the efforts of charities like Nightsafe and others in the borough that we can help ensure we are always going to have good support for people who really need it.
The fact that 116 local people are prepared to put up with a very cold night sleeping on the streets shows the collective sense of compassion in the borough for the less fortunate members of our local community and is a great example of why Blackburn with Darwen is such a great place to live.
Cllr Riley added:
Donating direct to charities that provide support for our most vulnerable people is the best way to ensure charities like Nightsafe can continue the work they do to give those most in need the right help.
The initiative goes hand-in-hand with the work the Council and the BID and other partners have been doing to support vulnerable people in the borough by commissioning specialist outreach street teams to work directly with people who are begging on the streets – giving them the help and support they need.
Nightsafe has a number of projects including an emergency night shelter, 2 supported housing projects, 4 outreach flats, an activity based day centre, a volunteer mentor project, a specialist under 18’s support worker and an outreach support service in the community supporting young people in their own tenancies.
The sleep out will be held tonight (Friday 1st December 2017) in Blackburn Town Centre, near to the clock tower on King William Street, from 9pm to 6am the following morning.
A hot breakfast will be served at Nightsafe’s day centre Platform 5 for those who wish to join them.
Jan Larkin, Nightsafe’s Chief Executive, said:
The last sleep out in 2015 was a great night and we had over 50 people sleep out with us. We are expecting it to be an even bigger turn-out this year with over 100 registrations already.
This year we hope even more people to join us and help us to raise awareness of Nightsafe’s services.
For more information please check out the event on Nightsafe’s Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/NightsafeBwd or email info@night-safe.org.uk