Council staff to take place in The Great Grimsby Sleep Out

The annual Great Grimsby Sleep Out is set to take place on the 7^th February 2025. The event aims to raise vital funds for homelessness charity, Harbour Place.

Every year groups of volunteers gather across several levels of the West Wing car park at Freshney Place in Grimsby, and spend the night sleeping rough to raise money for the charity.

Volunteers enter the Sleep Out in teams who will work together using cardboard to build themselves shelters to sleep in overnight.

This year the council have a team of ten taking part in the sleep out. The team includes senior leaders Sharon Wroot, Executive Director of Place and Resources, Ann-Marie Matson,  Director of Children’s Services, and Katie Brown, Director of Adult’s Services.

Katie said: “At the recent Harbour Place fundraising dinner, we had the opportunity to sign up…so we did! Over the following week, more of our colleagues decided to join us.

“We felt it was really important to raise awareness of homelessness and rough sleeping, and also to promote the role of the council in the delivery of housing in our community.” North East Lincolnshire Council works closely with Harbour Place to support people who are rough sleeping in our area.

Harbour Place provides a day centre with short-stay rooms for people who have been rough sleeping in North East Lincolnshire. They also provide support for those rough sleeping and outreach support.

Every person who attends Harbour Place is able to have a shower, a hot meal, and get clean clothes.

Jessica Burnette, Harbour Place’s Community Engagement Officer said:

“We are thrilled to have members of North East Lincolnshire Council joining us in our Great Grimsby Sleep Out event on the 7th February 2025. This annual event aims to raise awareness and resources to support people who are experiencing homelessness in our community.

“All the money raised will go directly towards Harbour Place services and will support us to accomplish our mission, which ultimately is to end homelessness.

“Our event is hosted in the West wing car park located at Freshney Place, who have hosted this event for Harbour Place for many years. We are extremely grateful for all the support and hard work from Freshney Place and its employees.

“We put on several activities throughout the evening, including our competition for the best shelter design. Teams will use cardboard to build their own shelters to sleep under for the evening. It is fantastic to see local businesses and members of our community getting involved in the activities, it gives a real sense of community.

“The event starts at 7pm through to 6am the following morning. We have different activities and entertainment scheduled until later in the evening, then at approximately 10pm is when we usually start to see our fundraisers getting ready for some rest.

“This year, we are set to have over 80 participants. It is great to see so many new and regular people getting involved in this significant event."

Councillor Stewart Swinburn, Portfolio Holder for Housing, Infrastructure, and Transport added: “It’s great to see that senior leaders from the council are taking part in the sleep out, raising money and awareness for such a great cause!”

“Harbour Place do such great work supporting people who rough sleep in our area, but it is important that people who find themselves facing homelessness to seek support as early as possible.

“As soon as you find out that you may be facing eviction or the loss of your home, contact the Council’s Home Options team. This will give them some time to start to consider your case and search for alternative accommodation or get in touch with your landlord to arrange an extension to your contract.

To donate to the council team for the Harbour Place Sleep Out, please visit Katie Brown is fundraising for Harbour Place Grimsby

If you are facing the threat of homelessness or know someone who is sleeping rough, contact NELC Home Options team on 01472 326296 or visit www.nelincs.gov.uk.