Posted21.03.19
Croydon MPs give up their beds to raise money for leading homelessness charity Evolve
As the number of homeless people sleeping on the Capital’s streets continues to rise, leading homelessness charity Evolve is staging Croydon’s first ever Sleep Out. Croydon’s MPs Sarah Jones, Shadow Minister for Housing, and Steve Reed, Shadow Minister for Civil Society will be joined by Croydon Council Deputy Leader Councillor Alison Butler as they give up their beds for the floor of Boxpark Croydon on Sunday 24th March 2019.
Sleep Out Croydon has attracted over 150 other participants determined to raise awareness of the issue of homelessness on our streets, not just in Croydon but across London and the UK. Through the commitment of passionate individuals, Sleep Out Croydon is set to raise over £30,000. Every penny raised on the night will go directly to fund Evolve’s transformative work with homeless people.
The charity provides housing and support to over 2,000 people each year and is the leading charity provider of homelessness accommodation in Croydon. Working with partners such as Crisis, Evolve to spearhead the ‘CR Zero 2020’ initiative to end rough sleeping in Croydon.
Steve Reed, MP for Croydon North and Shadow Minister for Civil Society, who has already raised over £1,000 for the charity, says:
“There is a homelessness crisis on our streets with hundreds of people left to bed down outside. We can’t just stand by and watch things get worse, so I’m taking part to support Evolve who provide those in need with a safe place to sleep and the help they need to get their lives back on track.”
Alongside headline sponsor Croydon Business Improvement District (BID) and host Boxpark Croydon, Evolve are calling on anyone interested in making a positive difference to homelessness to join Sleep Out Croydon.
Matthew Sims, Chief Executive, Croydon BID said:
“Together we can all make a positive impact to the lives of people who are faced with the constant, daily struggles of homelessness. We can’t just ignore it. In raising the profile and much needed funds for homelessness through activities such as Sleep Out Croydon, we are saying enough is enough. I am incredibly proud of the response shown by the Croydon business community in supporting the need to offer solutions to those who are homeless and on our streets.”
Jeremy Gray, Chief Executive at Evolve said:
“We are delighted that Steve Reed MP, Sarah Jones MP and Councillor Alison Butler are taking part in our first ever Sleep Out. Myself, our Chair and many of our supporters will be taking part to support homeless people, particularly in and around Croydon..”
“The experience will by no means replicate the tough conditions faced by people sleeping rough in London. However, it will mobilise local people and businesses to come together and raise funds to help support a lasting solution to homelessness. We are incredibly grateful to headline sponsor Croydon BID, Boxpark Croydon and most importantly of all to the 150 people who have raised significant funds on their road to making Sleep Out Croydon a success.”
The Sleep Out will begin at 9.30pm on Sunday 24th March in Boxpark Croydon, with registration, a cup of tea and inspiring words from people with a lived experience of sleeping on the streets.
TAKE PART
If you are interested in making a positive difference to homeless people join Sleep Out Croydon. There is a registration fee of £20 and those participating are required to raise a minimum of £175 in sponsorship – all of which will go towards supporting Evolve’s work with homeless people.
For more information and to sign up to take part visit: www.evolvehousing.org.uk
Follow @EvolveLDN on Twitter and Instagram and follow the event using the #SleepOutCroydon #SleepOutforEvolve #EvolveSleepOut hashtags.
– Ends –
Notes to Editors
Media can report from Sleep Out Croydon but must be registered in advance. There will be interview and photo opportunities on site between 8.30pm and 11.30pm on 24th March 2019. There will also be a photo opportunity at 6.30am on 25th March, at the end of the event.
For further information please contact Laura McLellan, Head of Business Development on 0207 101 9960 or 077 0981 7154 or laura.mclellan@evolvehousing.org.uk.
About Evolve Housing + Support
Evolve is a leading homelessness charity in London, providing housing and support to over 2,000 people each year.
We believe in building on people’s strengths, aspirations and goals to help break the cycle of homelessness and help them move forward with their lives.
We offer asset-based support tailored to meet people’s individual needs, including housing, employment and skills training, mentoring and counselling. We work with young parents and children at risk of exclusion to build the skills and resilience that can help prevent homelessness. We campaign to end street homelessness. We build affordable homes to help people move on to an independent life.
Our mission is to help children, young people and adults who are homeless or at risk of homelessness reach their potential, and move on to live happy, fulfilled lives.
In Croydon we are the leading provider of homelessness accommodation currently working with over 300 people in the borough. As part of our commitment to ending rough sleeping in Croydon we launched with partners ‘CR Zero 2020’ in 2016 including local people, local organisations and housing and health departments, working together to find new ways to help chronic rough sleepers leave the streets.
Statistics Referenced: 1.Crisis Homelessness Monitor April 2018
Annual Public Health Report Croydon
About Croydon Bid
A not for profit company set up by businesses in 2007 to give Croydon a competitive edge and make it more welcoming to all those who use it. One of the largest Business Improvement Districts in the UK, covering virtually the entire town centre. Croydon BID represents the interests of around 570 organisations, including well-known brands and businesses in the retail, office, leisure, hospitality and public sectors.
About Boxpark
The world’s first pop up mall Boxpark Shoreditch was launched in 2010. Effortlessly fusing the concepts of the modern street food market and the pop-up retail mall, Boxpark stands proudly in the heart of London’s Shoreditch to deliver a community of brands specialising in fashion, arts, food and drinks.
Boxpark Croydon opened in October 2016. It is the biggest food and culture outlet of its kind in London with 40 traders from around the world, both established and start-up, set in over 90 shipping containers. Boxpark Croydon has a 2,000 capacity space, plus a dedicated weekly community events programme that offers music nights, markets, fitness sessions and more for the community and visitors to Croydon to attend for free.
Boxpark Wembley opened on the 8th December 2018 and is the largest site to date for the Boxpark team. Offering a diverse selection of street food vendors and a year-round schedule of entertainment, Boxpark Wembley provides the ultimate fan zone with a 20,000 square foot dedicated events space, offering an immersive food, drink and leisure experience based on the Boxpark philosophy of Eat. Drink. Play.
