Swansea City AFC Foundation and Matthew's House will host 'Swans Big Sleep Out'
Matthew’s House and Swansea City AFC Foundation are hosting a Swans Big Sleep Out on Friday November 17 2023.
The event aims to raise awareness of homelessness and some of its causes, issues which face so many in our community in Swansea.
Sleeping out for one night is no comparison to the real thing, but it does give a better understanding of what some people are dealing with every day.
The Foundation are 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.
Going into the winter months with nights are getting longer, darker, and colder charities such as Matthew's House are more in demand than ever. This is just the right time to give these organisations the boost they need.
Thom Lynch, Matthew's House project leader, said: "This event is crucial in so many ways for us at Matthew's House. It helps to raise awareness of some of the complicated realities of homelessness and in particular sleeping rough, and it also highlights the work we do so that more people in the city can get involved.
“We have missed taking part in the sleepout for the last three years at Swansea City Football Club and cherish the support from their team.
“We have learnt from seven years of supporting people in Swansea that working with the city is always better when it's bringing friends and partners together. This event does exactly that."
Paul France, head of Swansea City AFC Foundation, added: "Swansea City AFC Foundation has a mission to use Swansea City as a force for positive change.
“This event, in partnership with a wonderful charity partner Matthew’s House, will hopefully raise much needed funds to help make a positive change in how we support homeless people in Swansea. Funds raised will also support the Foundation’s new programme which will be working with people and families affected by addiction, one of the main causes of homelessness.”
You can also support the project without taking part in the sleepout by clicking the button below.
ON THE NIGHT
The 'Swans Big Sleep Out' will be held at the Swansea.com Stadium on Friday November 17 and will begin at 7pm. A full timetable of the evening can be found below:
7.00pm - 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
6.00am - 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 a 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 £150 each in the lead up to the event, with the sleepout hoping to raise a target of £15,000, which will be incredibly valuable in order to support homeless people in Swansea.
The person who raises the most sponsorship will receive a signed Swansea City shirt.
If you need any support with fundraising, please get in touch with Swansea City Foundation - helen@swansfoundation.org.uk or Matthew’s House – friends@matthewshouse.org.uk.
Is there parking at the stadium?
Yes, there will be parking available in the main stadium carpark. The barrier will close at 11pm and re-open 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 along the outside of the stadium. There will be no access pitch-side during the event. 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 Sleepout 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 and cash collected in a sealed envelope and clearly mark with your name and amount enclosed.
Please update your Just Giving page with any off-line donations so we can track the campaign total.
