Merry Hill hosting YMCA Sleep Easy event

Councillor David Stanley has spoken about tomorrow night's Sleep Easy event, which is taking place in the Purple car park at the Merry Hill shopping centre.

The event is a YMCA fundraising initiative, raising money to help change the lives of vulnerable young people.

The money raised will go towards YMCA’s Moving Forward Fund, which will support people who have previously been homeless and are looking to rebuild their lives.

Since the event began in 2010, more than £1 million has been raised by hundreds of people who chose to sleep rough for just one night.

It will be the third time Merry Hill has hosted the Sleep Easy event, with special guests such Councillor Anne Millward, Labour MP for Birmingham and Hodge Hill Liam Byrne and BBC presenter Jay Blades taking part.

Councillor Stanley was in attendance at a press call for the event, which brought together people from YMCA and other organisations take part in the event.

He posed for photos with the participants and spoke about how the event could inspire people.

He said: "I think it should inspire people because it shows what you can do to help youngsters and give them support.

"We've got a lot of skilful and talented young people out there, and everyone deserves a chance in life.

"The less fortunate need more help, and events like this will raise money to give them that extra step back into the community and get more support."

Participants will spend the night in cardboard boxes provided by the YMCA, with hot drinks and food provided throughout the evening, with official Sleep Easy hoodies and hats on sale.

The participants in the event come from a range of backgrounds and groups, including people who have been helped by the YMCA in the past.

Erin Edwards was aided by YMCA supported lodgings after becoming homeless at a young age.

The 20-year-old has since built a career as a Care Support worker at Sunfield Care home in Clent and decided to take part after hearing about the event from the YMCA.

She said: "I originally come into supported lodgings when I was not in the best place and I thought this would be a great thing to get involved with.

"It's just experiencing what homeless people have to deal with on a day to day basis sleeping rough and not having a roof over their head."

Erin said she had been making sure she was properly prepared for the evening ahead.

She said: "I've got lots of layers and I'm making sure I've got a belly full of food before I do it to make it through the night.

"I definitely feel I can inspire people doing this because it means more people are going to get involved in future.

"That means more shares that you'll get on social media and the more knowledge and understanding people will get from this."

Duncan Burns, marketing manager at intu Merry Hill, praised YMCA and spoke about what it meant to the centre to be involved in this initiative.

He said: "We’re delighted to be partnering with YMCA for the third consecutive year, who continue to make an incredibly positive impact in helping support those in our community who have been impacted by homelessness."

The YMCA Black Country Sleep Easy takes place on Friday at intu Merry Hill Shopping Centre, Purple Car Park, Brierley Hill.

To find out more, go to ymcabc.org.uk/support-your-ymca/fundraising/sleepeasy/