01 Mar SUCCESSFUL BIG SLEEP OUT 5 RAISES £20,000 AND COUNTING!

The 2022 instalment of the Huddersfield Town Foundation’s Big Sleep Out, which was supported by The Skinny Food Co, has raised more than £20,000 with the total still rising!

95 people braved the cold at the John Smith’s Stadium in the name of charity, with the total raised over the five years now passing £150,000.

Money raised will be split into two, with one half supporting the Town Foundation’s Breakfast Club and the remainder open to tender from local organisations tackling poverty.

Guests arrived from 9pm and entered the stadium via the Magic Rock Brewing Stand turnstiles, before making their way into the Chadwick Lawrence Stand.

Their first port of call was deciding whether they’d like to sleep within the concourse or in the stadium bowl, using cardboard kindly supplied by BM Packaging to create a den or use as a bed.

At roughly 10.30pm attendees gathered for an event briefing and welcome from Town Foundation Chief Executive Siobhan Atkinson, before playing games and quizzes to pass the time.

It was a pleasure to welcome a number of Club staff to the event, including Interim Chief Executive Dean Hoyle, his wife Janet, Commercial Director Ian Birtley and Operations Director Ann Hough.

When the lights went out at midnight it was time to settle down for long, cold night – experience just a smidgen of what a homeless person might experience on the streets of our local community every night.

The morning started with bacon and egg rolls kindly prepared by Ann Hough and Ian Simpson from KSDL Catering. The Foundation also extends its gratitude to Haigh’s Farm Shop, who kindly provided the bacon and rolls free of charge.

Other stakeholders the Foundation would like to thank include:

Hadfields, HTAFC Chefs at Canalside, Jeanette Cartwright, Longley Farm, Total Food Service, Wilsons – for assisting with the supply of refreshments

Andy Thornton Limited – for donating a chair for use in the video diary room.

On the event Lisa Bottomley, Fundraising Executive at the Town Foundation commented:

“After last year’s event, which we were forced to host virtually because of the pandemic, it was fantastic to see so many people back together with a united aim.

“The Big Sleep Out is always an eye-opening experience and it really made us think about those that have to do it day in, day out – particularly in the winter months.

“The money raised will make a huge difference as we continue to support local families in need, and I’d like to support all of our partners for helping put on such a worthwhile event.”

It’s not too late to support those that took part with a donation, should you wish.

The easiest way to do so is online via Just Giving – please CLICK HERE to be redirected. Alternatively, you can text HTF to 70331 to donate £3!

Just £5 serves one child breakfast every school day for three weeks, therefore making a huge difference to our local community.

Further details on how organisations and/or charities can apply for grant funding from the event will be announced in due course.

If you would like any further information about the Town Foundation’s Fundraising efforts, please contact Fundraising Executive Lisa Bottomley via email: lisa.bottomley@htafcfoundation.com or telephone: 01484 503773.