DOZENS of people from businesses across Scotland gave up the comfort of their own beds last week as part of a national sleepout event to raise money for Action for Children.
The Boycott Your Bed fundraisers took place across the UK with events in London, Belfast, Leeds, Snowdonia National Park and Glasgow. Those taking part committed to sleeping out in the open for the night as part of a fundraising campaign to raise money for children, families and young people in need of support this winter.
For the Glasgow instalment of the event a total of 50 people from businesses including Scottish Enterprise, CCL Logistics, Harvey Nash, Morton Fraser, Ce-IT, BJSS, Pentewan and more signed up for the sleep out and helped raised over £23k their fundraising.
The evening began at The Renfield Training and Conference Centre on Bath Street in the city centre where everyone gathered to meet the Action for Children staff ahead of the sleep out. There they also had the chance to hear from some young people who shared their experience of how the charity had helped support them. The participants took part in a quiz and were given a bite to eat before making their way out to the grass area in the centre of Blythswood Square where they had only a sleeping bag to protect them from the elements.
Formerly known as Byte Night, Boycott Your Bed was celebrating its 25th anniversary, with the event having raised more than £13 million for Action for Children to date, money which has made a significant difference to vulnerable children across the UK. All of the money raised will help to vulnerable families this winter with essential like warm clothes, hot meals and support with energy bills and mental health.
With one in four children in Scotland growing up in the grip of poverty, and the cost of living crisis is crippling families financially, the money raised from Boycott Your Bed will be vital in allowing Action for Children to reach more families this winter.
Grant McFarlane, Senior High Value Relationship Manager at Action for Children, said: “Boycott Your Bed turned out to be another fantastic fundraising events and we’re extremely grateful for everyone who took part and donated.
The children, young people and families we help are facing a grim winter and beyond as the cost-of-living crisis escalates. Boycotting your bed helps Action for Children in our mission to provide emotional and practical support to those suffering the most during this time.”
For the last 25 years, Action for Children has challenged people to give up their bed for a night, raising an incredible £13 million along the way. This has made an incredible difference in the charity’s efforts to help the most vulnerable children, families and young people across the country. This year’s event was more important than ever as the charity strives to help more families than ever before amidst the cost of living crisis.
