News
Sleep Out 2023 was a great success, with 65 participants giving up their beds for the night to raise funds and awareness for young people facing homelessness. Over £13,000 was raised for a fantastic cause.
Step by Step’s eleventh annual Sleep Out took place at Farnborough Business Park on a cold, damp October night. A weather warning of heavy rain and strong winds forced the event inside, into an old disused warehouse.
The evening got started with Rock Choir filling the cavernous space with upbeat crowd-pleasers, before the mic was turned over to a number of special guests. These included Supported Lodgings Host Wendy, who shared the tragic story of why she decided to work with Step by Step and help vulnerable young people. Wendy was followed by Mustafa, a separated child who had been through an unimaginable ordeal but was happy to share his love of music and deliver a fantastic rap to a captivated crowd.
Meanwhile, a team from the army’s 27th Regiment cooked a fantastic barbeque to prepare the participants for the cold night ahead.
We were honoured to be joined by Amelia Riviere, High Sheriff of Hampshire who is a keen proponent of Step by Step.
When the lights went out, some stayed inside the warehouse to sleep, while others pitched down outside on the damp gravel. Spirits were high even as the mercury dropped, and participants found themselves thinking of young people who had to endure such conditions every night.
“Sleep Out 2023 was a fantastic night and one of our best Sleep Outs ever,” said Anda Chiu, Head of Fundraising at Step by Step. “It was truly touching to see everyone come together for a cause close to all of our hearts.”
We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who took part, slept out and helped raise essential funds for those who need them the most. We would particularly like to thank:
Step by Step’s Supported Lodgings has become the first service of its kind to achieve Ofsted accreditation. We are now the largest Supported Lodgings provider in the UK, as well as being considered the authority in the field.
