We’re so excited to be back at the historic Reading Abbey Ruins for the Big Sleep Out and we hope you can join us!
Our flagship fundraising event takes place on Saturday 8 October to mark World Homeless Day and we want to raise £40,000 for our vital services which help local people avoid homelessness, particularly in these uncertain times.
We’re already seeing an increase of people coming into our free drop-in service – individuals, couples and families who are facing spiralling rent arrears or eviction because they simply can’t make ends meet.
By taking part in the Big Sleep Out at Reading Abbey Ruins you will be helping us to provide urgent support for the increasing number of local people who are at risk of losing their home, as the cost of living continues to rise.
At the Big Sleep Out you will swap your comfortable bed for a sleeping bag outside under the stars at Reading Abbey Ruins. While the event doesn’t aim to replicate homelessness, it does offers those taking part an insight into some of the things people experience when they’re rough sleeping – such as cold temperatures, an uncomfortable bed and limited sleep.
The event begins at 6.30pm on Saturday 8 October with an evening of entertainment at St Laurence’s Church – hosted by Launchpad patrons Matt Allwright and Danyl Johnson – which will include live music, a prize raffle, a hot meal, and talks from Launchpad staff and clients.
Then we head over to the Reading Abbey Ruins to bed down for the night until the next morning.
Now in its 17th year, Big Sleep Out has raised over £320,000 – it’s such an important and well supported fundraising event and we would love you to be part of it.
In 2019, the event was held in the grounds of the Grade I listed ruins of Reading Abbey for the first time and in 2020 and 2021, the Big Sleep Out went virtual and became the Big Sleep out at home because of the pandemic.
This year’s event’s headline sponsor is planning, regeneration and design consultancy Stantec/Barton Willmore and the event is also supported by workplace services provider Active Workplace Solutions.
Vicki Lewis, Fundraising Manager at Launchpad, said, “We are delighted to be bringing the Big Sleep Out back to the incredible Reading Abbey Ruins. The site is a truly iconic landmark for the town and a special place for crowds of local people to sleep out, mark World Homeless Day and raise vital funds for the charity. We’re hoping for our biggest and best Big Sleep Out yet!
“Our services at Launchpad are a lifeline to over 1,100 local people every year and over the next few months, we know there are going to many more people who find themselves on the brink of homelessness and in desperate need of our support. We would love people to join #TeamLaunchpad for the Big Sleep Out and help us raise £40,000 to fund this vital work and ensure people avoid homelessness. By sleeping out, we can ensure others in Reading don’t have to.”
Stephen Toole, Director at Stantec/Barton Willmore – the event’s headline sponsors – said, “Climate change and social inequality remain the UKs two biggest and most difficult challenges. The Big Sleep Out at Reading Abbey Ruins is a huge opportunity for us and Reading’s business community to support Launchpad and their critical work supporting those most impacted by the latter of these.
“Delivering community development across the Thames Valley (and the wider UK) that is equitable and designed with communities in mind, lies at the heart of everything we are striving to achieve within the industry, and as such we’re delighted to support one of our favourite local charities’ flagship fundraising event.
“We are all hugely looking forward to spreading the word and helping raise their highest total yet.”
Registration for the Big Sleep Out is £20 per person and we ask that those taking part raise minimum of £250.
We have a Big Sleep Out guide to help you fundraise and spread the word about the challenge and you’ll get lots of support and resources from Launchpad’s fundraising team including a snazzy woolly beanie hat!