Swansea City AFC Foundation and Matthew’s House to host the return of ‘Swans Big Sleep Out’
The ‘Swans Big Sleep Out’ will return to the Swansea.com Stadium this November as Swansea City AFC Foundation and Matthew’s House partner up to raise awareness of homelessness.
Sleeping out for one night is no comparison to the realities of homelessness, but it does give a better understanding of what some people are dealing with everyday.
The Foundation is inviting individuals and businesses to sign up to spend the night at the Swansea.com Stadium and raise crucial funds for Matthew’s House and Swansea City AFC Foundation, with both charities working to tackle homelessness head on.
This year’s event will take place on Friday November 15 2024, almost exactly one year on from last year’s ‘Swans Big Sleep Out’ which raised over £28,000.
"The support we get from Swansea City and their Foundation is very special and, after the success of last year’s event, we at Matthew's House are delighted to work again with Swans Foundation on the 'Swans Big Sleep Out 2024'," said Thom Lynch, Matthew’s House project leader.
“Homelessness, in particular sleeping rough, is not straightforward, and this crucial event helps to raise awareness of some of the complicated realities of the issue. It also highlights the work we do, and the wonderful volunteers we have, so that more people in the city can get involved.
“Matthew’s House has been supporting people in Swansea for eight years and we know that working together with friends and partners is always better for everyone. This event does exactly that.”
Paul France, head of Swansea City AFC Foundation, added: “This event, in partnership with the wonderful charity Matthew’s House, will hopefully raise much needed funds to help make a positive change in how we support homeless people in Swansea.
“Last season’s 'Swans Big Sleep Out' had 70 sleepers and raised over £28,000. It was a humbling experience, and I would encourage anyone to sign up for this year’s event.
“This season we are holding the event within the bowl of the stadium, so we hope to get 100 sleepers taking part and raise £30,000.”
You can also support the project without taking part in the sleep out by clicking the button to donate, should you wish to do so, below.
ON THE NIGHT
The ‘Swans Big Sleep Out’ will be held at the Swansea.com Stadium on Friday November 15 and will begin at 7pm. A full timetable of the evening can be found below:
7pm – Arrival and registration
7.30pm – Welcome and housekeeping
7.45pm – Hot food will be served (donated by Compass)
8.15pm – Presentation from Matthew’s House
8.30pm – Presentation from Swansea City AFC Foundation
8.45pm – Personal impact story
9pm – Performance from Matthew’s House Choir
9.45pm – Mal Pope & Lee Trundle
10.30pm – Noise down
11pm – Lights out
6am – Breakfast (donated by Compass)
Hot drinks and access to toilets will be available throughout the night.
Be Prepared! You will need:
- Warm clothing and waterproofs – lots of layers!
- Hat, gloves and scarf.
- Suitable footwear for the weather conditions and thick socks.
- Sleeping bag.
- Roll mat or cardboard to sleep on (and build shelter if you wish).
- Any medication you require for an overnight stay (this will be your responsibility).
You may also consider bringing:
- Extra blankets.
- Plastic sheeting or tarpaulin to cover the ground.
- Snacks, refillable water bottle, refillable flask for hot drinks.
Please do not bring:
- Expensive personal items or money. You will not need any money during the event as refreshments will be provided free of charge.
- Alcohol.
- Air mattresses.
- Tents.
Sign up now and start fundraising!
To register, please click HERE to complete the registration form and pay a £25 registration fee.
Places are limited to 100 so the registration fee secures your place, makes a contribution towards administration costs, and kick starts your fundraising with a 50/50 contribution to each charity.
Participants are encouraged to raise £200 each in the lead up to the event, with the 'Big Swans Sleep Out' hoping to raise a target of £30,000, which will be incredibly valuable in supporting homeless people in Swansea.
Any person raising over £1,000 will receive a signed Swansea City shirt and the person raising the most will be invited into hospitality at a Swansea City match, being presented with their shirt on the pitch before the game.
If you need any support with fundraising, please get in touch with Swansea City AFC Foundation by emailing helen@swansfoundation.org.uk or Matthew’s House by emailing friends@matthewshouse.org.uk.
FAQs
Is there parking at the stadium?
Yes, there will be parking available in the main stadium car park. The barrier will close at 11pm and reopen at 6am. If you wish to leave earlier than 6am, you can ask at the main stadium reception for the barrier to be opened.
Where and when do I receive my t-shirt?
T-shirts will be given out when you sign in on the night of the event. Sizes will be big enough to go over your many layers of clothing.
Where will we be sleeping?
We will be sleeping within the bowl of the stadium overlooking the pitch, with access to the concourse in case of inclement weather. There will be no access to pitchside. Toilets will be made available in the concourse but there will be no access beyond that point. There will be stewards stationed in the concourse and sleeping areas for security.
How do I start fundraising?
You must create a Just Giving fundraising page that is linked to the 'Swans Big Sleep Out' campaign (see button below). We recommend sharing this link with friends, family and colleagues and asking them to sponsor you. You can do this on social media, via email, text/WhatsApp, or in person.
If you have a personal story or reason for taking part, and are happy to share this, include this in your Just Giving bio. This will draw more people in to support you.
As we will be getting close to Christmas you may want to consider asking for a donation in lieu of a Christmas present. You could host events such as a bake sale or raffle to generate further fundraising, too. Any donations in cash can be transferred onto your Just Giving page.
What do I do with cash donations?
Donation buckets will be available on the night of the event, so please bring cash collected in a sealed envelope and clearly marked with your name and amount enclosed.
Please update your Just Giving page with any off-line donations so we can track the campaign total.
Can under-16s take part?
Sleepers must be over the age of 14 and those aged 14 to 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. All participants must fill out the registration form.