Over 30 sleep out to support Shrewsbury charities

On Thursday 15 May, 32 people braved a night sleeping out at Croud Meadow, home of Shrewsbury Town FC, to raise both awareness and vital funds for us, The Shrewsbury Food Hub, and The Shrewsbury Town Foundation.

This event marked the first collaboration between the three local charities; it was a powerful demonstration of unity and shared purpose in tackling key issues such as homelessness, food insecurity, and community support, and we hope this will be the first of many joint efforts.

Here our Charity Director, Anton Goodwin, shares his experience and reflections of the night.

What were your first thoughts when you were asked to take part in the CEO Sleepout?

"I thought it was a great idea! It was an opportunity to raise money for three fantastic charities and, more importantly, to raise awareness of the challenges faced by vulnerable people in our community."

Tell us about some of the people you met on the night

"I met some truly fantastic people. Karen, who was previously Chair of the Ark, and I had a great conversation about how our charity has changed. I also chatted with Beth from Shropshire Festivals, Tammy from The Shrewsbury Food Hub, and Howard from The Shrewsbury Town Foundation. There were too many to name!

“The singers from Moose Records were also amazing – they really added something special to the night. The highlight of the night was hearing firsthand accounts of experiences of being homeless from people coming out the other side "

Did you get much sleep?

"It’s definitely not like camping!

“We were on concrete, and while we were lucky to be in a secure environment, many of our clients don’t have that luxury. It really brought home how essential sleep is for functioning during the day – I went straight from the sleepout to a meeting and could feel the effects. It has made us think a lot about having some bunk beds in The Ark – if our guys had a few hours of sleep in a safe environment it would make a real difference to their well-being and productivity.

“Even though it was a May night, we were shocked by how cold it felt. It made us all reflect on how tough it must be during the winter months, which is why we continue to work with the Council Rough Sleeper team providing winter shelter if funding is available.

“Most importantly, we felt safe – but our clients don’t. Sadly, the risk of being physically attacked while sleeping rough is all too real and frequent here in Shrewsbury."

Looking ahead

"Next year, we aim to engage even more with corporate partners to expand the reach and impact of this event. We’re just getting started."

“Thank you to everyone who took part, donated, or supported the event. Your contributions make a real difference.”

Join us in making a difference. Because when we come together, we can change lives!

You can make a donation directly into our CAF bank account here, or if you shop online, we’re on the Give As you Live platform - from holidays and travel, to clothing and gifts, access over 6,000 retail partners where you can shop as normal, but your purchase will automatically generate a donation for us, at no cost to you!

If you are looking for a volunteer role, please get in touch.

And please do spread the word - follow us on social media and give us a shout-out: we’re active on X (formally known as Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TicToc.