Social Bite’s Sleep in the Park initiative has raised over £500,000 in only three weeks. The social business is on an ambitious mission to work with others to end homelessness in Scotland within five years (see below), and more than 2,000 people have already pledged to sleep out at the Sleep in the Park event in Princes Street Gardens on December 9th.
Fifteen families have also signed up to offer a spare room and 28 companies are offering job opportunities to homeless people.
Up to ten thousand people are expected to ‘sleep rough’at the event, which has been billed ‘Live Aid for Scottish Homelessness’. Attractions include:
- Live concert featuring ‘buskers’ Liam Gallagher, Deacon Blue, Amy Macdonald and Frightened Rabbit. all playing rare stripped back acoustic sets.
- Sir Bob Geldof will be sleeping out and supporting the event
- Comedy legend John Cleese to tell a bedtime story to top fundraisers
Social Bite has set a fundraising target of £4m and is looking to generate 1,000 employment offers and 1,000 ‘spare room’ supported lodging pledges.
To register to participate, go to sleepinthepark.co.uk