LandAid, the property industry charity has raised more than £500,000 to support young people experiencing homelessness, in its biggest SleepOut.
Around 1,300 property professionals from across the UK came together to raise over £500,000 to support young people experiencing homelessness.
The SleepOut took place on 2 March in city locations in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Glasgow, Leeds, London, and Manchester.
Each region has been raising funds that will support a local project. These include: St Basils in Birmingham, 1625 Independent People in Bristol, YMCA Trinity in Cambridge, LATCH in Leeds and the Salford Foyer in Manchester.
The projects will look to provide accommodation, employment opportunities and wider peer-to-peer support for young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in the future.
The LandAid SleepOut has been supported by headline sponsor Knight Frank, alongside regional sponsors, Prologis in Birmingham, TFT in Bristol, Bidwells in Cambridge, Hollis in Glasgow, HBD in Leeds, and Addleshaw Goddard in Manchester.
Venues across the country were donated by sponsors, Birmingham City Council, La Salle Investment Management in Bristol, Cambridge University Rugby Football Club, Landsec in Glasgow and Leeds, British Land in London, and Sale Rugby Football Club in Salford, Manchester.
The event also received cardboard boxes from Crown Workspace for everyone to sleep on, and Hunter Ops provided the signage required for each venue.
Paul Morrish, LandAid’s chief executive, said in a statement: “Thank you so much to everyone who braved the freezing cold and slept out during the biggest LandAid SleepOut ever. It’s amazing to see the event grow year on year. The support we have received across the country has been incredible with 7 locations, as well as those sleeping out at home, coming together for one very important cause.
"While the experience gives everyone a very good idea of how tough sleeping outside is, one night outside does not replicate the true reality of rough sleeping that faces thousands of young people all over the UK. Unfortunately, we know that this number is continuing to grow. With the efforts of hundreds from the property industry, we have raised enough funds to make a real difference by providing safe and secure places for young people who can now focus on building a brighter future, rather than worrying about their night-to-night sleeping spot.”
Tim Hyatt, Knight Frank’s head of residential, said: “Knight Frank is delighted to be the headline sponsor of the LandAid SleepOut this year and going forward for a further two years. We stand shoulder to shoulder with LandAid in its mission to end youth homelessness across the country – for us one young person sleeping rough is too many.
"It is great to see the SleepOuts building further momentum, with Glasgow joining Cambridge, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester and London for the first time this year. Every single one is special and goes a long way to helping get young people off the streets. Along with the wider property industry, Knight Frank continues to focus on this most worthy and urgent cause. It is so heartening to have been joined on Thursday by over 145 colleagues from Knight Frank and importantly raise more than £500,000 collectively with the industry.”
Matthew Green, managing director of CoStar Europe, said: “Congratulations and thank you to everyone who joined the LandAid SleepOut and raised so much for such an important charity and cause. Thank you to my three fellow 'SleepOuters' at CoStar, one of whom noted that the SleepOut was a 'real eye-opener to the plight of so many homeless people'. I agree.”