The Big Sleep 2025 will take place on Tuesday 25th March at the University of Leicester Centenary Square, in aid of The Bridge Homelessness to Hope!
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Sleeping out for the night might be fun, but for many people this is an every night reality, and is why The Bridge Homelessness to Hope are once again spending a night sleeping outside to fundraise for their much-needed and important work with the homeless community.
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The Bridge Homelessness To Hope is an outreach to the lost and lonely of Leicester, to the homeless and to those who just have nowhere to go and no one to turn to.
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By participating in this event, you are helping to support the vital work we do, which includes providing:
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A Breakfast and Lunch Service
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Access to Hot Showers
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Clothing and Toiletries
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Washing and Drying Facilities
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We also have three Case Workers, who will look to support our guests with a range of needs, including:
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Housing Advice and Support
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Benefit Advice and Support
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Connecting with a GP or Dentist
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Accessing Mental Health and Wellbeing Support
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Accessing our Creative Sessions including Arts & Crafts, Music, Football, and our Film Club
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Accessing one-to-one mentoring through The Lighthouse Project
Event Details
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When & where will the Big sleep 2025 take place?
The main 'Big Sleep' event will take place on Tuesday 25th March 2025 between 8.00pm - 8.00am at the University of Leicester in Centenary Square.*
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This year, we are also offering the chance for people to take part in The Big Sleep 2025 by sleeping outside in their own back gardens between Monday 24th - Sunday 30th March.
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* In the case of adverse weather, The Big Sleep will be moved into the Charles Wilson Sports Hall at the UoL Campus Centre.
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Who can Get Involved?
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Anyone over the age of 18 can take part in The Big Sleep 2025.
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You can either take part in this fundraising event as an individual or by building up a team of supporters by getting your friends, family and colleagues involved.
Whether they sponsor your 'Big Sleep' or join you for a night under the stars, we want you to get as many people involved as possible in support of The Bridge and to raise awareness of homelessness.
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How do I take part in The Big Sleep 2025?
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To take part in The Big Sleep 2025, you will need to do the following:
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1. Complete a Big Sleep 2025 Registration Form on our website.
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Students from the University of Leicester who are taking part in The Big Sleep will need to complete a Registration Form with UoL.
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2. Set up your fundraiser on Enthuse either as an individual or as part of a team. See below for more details.
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Taking Part on Your Own?
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If you are taking part in The Big Sleep on your own, you will need to visit our 'Big Sleep 2025' fundraising page on Enthuse, click the 'Fundraise for us' button at the top of the page and follow the signing up process.
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Taking Part in a Team?
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If you are fundraising as part of a team, you will need to visit our 'Big Sleep 2025' fundraising page on Enthuse, click the 'Create a Team' button located at the top of the page and follow the signing up process.
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Spread The Word!
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All set up? Now it's time to tell everyone about your fundraiser! In order to raise money, you will need sponsors, so get sharing your fundraiser with as many people as possible.
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION
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What you will need:
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A sleeping bag and blankets
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A flask for hot drinks
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Warm clothing - the more layers the better!
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Scarf, hat and gloves
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Cardboard (for under your sleeping bag) will be provided.
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Raising Awareness
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We are trying to make this as authentic as possible, so whilst we encourage you to bring your mobile phone, we would ask that you please keep usage to an absolute minimum and preferably only on social media to promote the event. Fundraising for ‘The Big Sleep’ is of course very important but it’s also important to highlight the issue of homelessness.
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Parking
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Parking is available at The University of Leicester. If you wish to park at UoL, please send us your car registration before the event via info@bridgeleicester.org so that we can notify the university.
Health & Safety
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A risk assessment has been carried out for the event and there will be a qualified first aider on hand throughout.
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There will be toilet access on the University campus.
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Get in Touch!
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For more information about The Big Sleep, please get in touch with us via info@bridgeleicester.org
Thank you in advance from all of us at The Bridge Homelessness to Hope!
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#BIGSLEEP25
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Our Sponsors
"Dozens of our employees from our offices across the UK are busy gathering sponsorship to brave a cold night under the stars for The Big Sleep 2025
Many have already volunteered in the charity’s kitchen and activity rooms last year and we will continue this much needed volunteering in 2025.
As a company, Heidelberg Materials has committed to donating several items to help support the Centre.
We hope in this way we can make a huge difference to the lives of so many people sleeping rough on Leicester’s streets and continue to raise awareness."
"Shoezone is proud to sponsor The Bridge Homelessness to Hope again in their upcoming Big Sleep this year. As we are based in Leicester, we are more than happy to support such a local charity in the vital work they do to in raising awareness and supporting individuals that find themselves facing challenges every night without a place to sleep. Following a food donation at Christmas, we are delighted to be able to be able to do more to help The Bridge continue their amazing work."
"Once more, Dupli are pleased to be able to support ‘The Big Sleep’ 2025.
This will be our fourth consecutive year of sending a team of volunteers to join ‘The Big Sleep’ in aid of The Bridge Homelessness to Hope Charity.
Growing up, children see sleeping outside for a night as a great adventure, usually protected by the safe surrounds of garden walls, hedges and fences, but for thousands of adults this is an every night reality. The work that The Bridge Homelessness To Hope is vital in offering a glimmer of light at the end of what may seem like a lonely and seemingly endless tunnel. Dupli are extremely proud to be able to support this great work and we encourage you to do the same."
"Howes Percival is delighted to be supporting The Bridge and to be taking part in The Big Sleep! They are a fantastic local charity who we are proud to be involved with. We see that they provide a vital resource in the city at a time when homelessness is on the rise and our staff are more than happy to get involved. Taking part and helping to raise awareness reflects our dedication to making a positive impact in the communities we serve."
