Sanctuary Trust invites the community to participate in its annual Sleep Out on Friday, 22nd November from 8pm – 6am at Pier Road car park, aiming to raise vital funds to support homeless men in Jersey.
With less than 6 weeks to go until this important fundraiser, the charity is appealing to islanders and local businesses to show their support. This year’s event is kindly being sponsored by Jersey Mutual.
Participants will spend the night in sleeping bags on the concrete floors of levels 11 and 12 of Pier Road car park, using sleeping bags and a piece of cardboard. Tim Ringsdore, Chair of Sanctuary Trust, said: “It won’t be the most comfortable night you’ve ever spent, but it will be one of the most meaningful. We want participants to recognise the challenges faced by those without a home – not to replicate their experience, but to raise awareness of the issue here in Jersey.”
Tim adds, “As a CEO who has slept rough in every parish as a personal fundraiser for Sanctuary, I can tell my peers that this is one of the more difficult challenges I’ve faced. But I will always stress that it’s not comparable to being homeless. The Sleep Out is about recognising, not replicating, what it’s like not to have a place to call home. It’s an act of solidarity that helps raise money so we can continue our work.
With charities facing more challenges than ever this year, we need your support.”
Last year’s annual Sleep Out attracted over 140 participants and raised an impressive £35,000, all of
which directly supported Sanctuary Trust’s initiatives to help vulnerable men get their lives back on
track. These funds are vital for providing essential services, including accommodation, counselling, and
outreach support.
This year’s event will include hot soup, warm drinks, and acoustic music, creating a welcoming
atmosphere for participants to connect with each other and reflect on the important issues surrounding
homelessness in Jersey. In the morning, they’ll be offered breakfast and coffee, providing a chance to
reflect on their experience.
Sanctuary Trust is particularly eager to involve local businesses in this year’s event. Sarah Tumelty,
General Manager of Sanctuary Trust, said:
“We’re asking individuals and business leaders with their teams to experience a very different type of
team building exercise – sleeping on a cold, car park floor. This experience is testing and uncomfortable
and really makes you re-evaluate and appreciate what you have. It’s said you’re only a couple of pay
days away from potentially being homeless, because homelessness can happen to anyone. There’s still
time to sign up and make a difference, while sparking a bit of corporate competitiveness at the same
time.
This annual event helps raise awareness and funds to support our work. We are incredibly grateful to
everyone who gets involved, from participants to volunteers and local businesses. Their commitment is
what makes this event possible and impactful.”
All participants are being asked to bring sleeping bags, drinking water, cardboard, and warm clothes. All
under 16s must be accompanied by an adult, and well-behaved dogs are welcome too!
Islanders who are interested in taking part in this year’s Sleep Out can sign up on Sanctuary Trust’s
website: www.sanctuarytrust.org.je/events/sleep-out-2024-registration/
Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so on the charity’s dedicated Sleep Out 2024 Just Giving
page: www.justgiving.com/campaign/sleep-out-4-jsy-2024
Tim Ringsdore is available for interview in the lead up to the event. To arrange an interview with Tim,
please contact him directly on [email protected] or 07911 798000.
About Sanctuary Trust
Sanctuary Trust was set up in 2011 to provide emergency accommodation for men facing homelessness.
Since opening its doors, the charity has helped more than 350 men who have been at a crisis point in
their lives. Sanctuary Trust provides accommodation for up to 30 residents at any one time across three
facilities. Residents can have a range of hardships: homelessness; financial difficulties; domestic abuse;
mental health issues; relationship breakdowns and/or addiction. The charity supports residents through
their difficulties by providing counselling, helping them to find work if they are unemployed, and
securing accommodation for them once they are ready to live independently. Additionally, Sanctuary
Trust provides outreach services to those on waiting lists or needing support, as well as ongoing
assistance to residents after they have moved into their own homes
