BT volunteers sleep-out at Aldershot football club
“Come and have a go if you think you’re tired enough!”
www.stepbystep.org.uk/sleepout2014
Ten BT Volunteers from Aldershot telephone exchange are supporting Step by Step, the Hampshire-based charity for homeless and vulnerable young people, by taking part in the Big Summer Sleep Out event at Aldershot football ground at 7.30pm on Friday June 20.
It is the fourth annual sponsored Big Summer Sleep Out at the club, which is hoping to raise around £14,000 with approximately 100 people sleeping in the stands.
The BT volunteers consist of technicians and facilities staff, who all work at the BT telephone exchange in Aldershot.
BT Volunteer Andy Tremlett, a technical developer, said: “The hope is that each of us will raise around £100 per person, so if anyone wants to help donate they can do so at our website link: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/btunboxed We’re all looking forward to the Sleep Out at the club and we’ll be entering the cardboard bed competition as well.”
BT offers all employees up to three days a year to volunteer for initiatives as part of the company’s Better Future programme. The BT Community Challenge and BT Troubleshooter programmes develop partnerships with charities and community groups where BT people can share their skills. BT also gives employees the opportunity to volunteer for activities, about which they are personally passionate. During 2013-14 BT people gave over 46,000 days to local communities.
Gill Butler, Step by Step community fundraiser, said: “We're thrilled that so many of our supporters have signed up to sleep out. We'd love to see lots more people enjoying sleeping out on the terraces while they raise money for our fantastic training services. This is a chance for people to have fun, make a difference and sleep out so others don't have to. You can bring your friends - the more the merrier, so long as they register in advance. We have entertainment on the night and a cardboard bed competition too. We’re inviting as many local people as possible to join in, so it’s up to people to come and have a go if they think they’re tired enough.”
The evening promises to be an evening of fun and entertainment which will include Britain's Got More Talent's 'Big Mama Funk', Psychic Illusionist Lyndon Webb, a presentation by Step by Step clients, speeches and a cardboard bed competition.
Refreshments and breakfast are provided and there will be a BBQ during the evening should you wish to purchase food. This year you can pre-order special SleepOut onesies and hoodies to keep warm and make that #sleepoutselfie extra special.
About Step by Step
Step by Step, previously known as Emmaus Projects, was founded in 1992 with the objective of empowering young homeless and those facing adversity across Surrey, Hampshire and the surrounding area.
We offer free drop-in support and advice service for young people, together with a structured, progressive accommodation service including access to emergency shelter accommodation with support available 24/7 for those with a high level of needs.
Single rooms and semi-independent flats are offered within our Foyer buildings together with supported community flats throughout the locality.
We also offer one-to-one support, training to build skills and confidence towards independent living, an Education and Employment training programme, counselling services and a Family Mediation service aimed at reducing the number of young people who become homeless, by focusing on relationships and communication.
Step by Step empowers homeless young people and those facing adversity to achieve their full potential through all of these services.
